WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt air strikes on Lebanon to preserve the Pakistan-brokered US-Iran ceasefire, NBC News reported, citing a senior Trump administration official.
Trump made the request during a phone call on Wednesday, shortly after Netanyahu publicly vowed to continue striking Lebanon, NBC News reported.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has said Israel is seeking “to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible”.
On Wednesday, Israel launched the largest bombing campaign in Lebanon, killing over 300 people.
Pakistan is set to host high-stakes negotiations between the US and Iran this weekend after a two-week ceasefire — brokered through Islamabad’s intensive diplomatic efforts — was announced on Wednesday.
Delegations are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday, with formal negotiations scheduled for Saturday.
High-level talks in Islamabad
The United States delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, underscoring the significance Washington attaches to the Islamabad talks.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the delegation will also include Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
“The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning local time, and we look forward to those in-person meetings,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
She emphasised Vance’s central role in the diplomatic process:
“Vice President Vance has played a very significant and key role in this since the very beginning… he’s been involved in all of these discussions and will be leading this new phase of negotiations in Islamabad.”
Pakistani government sources said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan in the negotiations.
Iran is expected to be represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signalling Tehran’s serious engagement in what is being seen as a decisive diplomatic opening.
Ceasefire brokered by Pakistan
The negotiations follow a critical breakthrough earlier this week, when both the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire just hours before a major escalation deadline.
The agreement came after direct engagement between Pakistan’s leadership — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir — and senior officials in Washington and Tehran.
US President Donald Trump announced a suspension of military action after accepting Pakistan’s proposal for a pause in hostilities.
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire,” Trump said.
Iran swiftly issued a reciprocal confirmation, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledging Pakistan’s role and signalling readiness for negotiations.
Israeli attacks spark global condemnation
Israel’s large-scale air strikes on Lebanon, carried out just hours after a two-week ceasefire was announced in the US–Iran conflict, has sparked widespread global condemnation.
Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing military strikes on Lebanon, warning that the escalation risks derailing diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability in the Middle East.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said Islamabad “condemns in the strongest terms” the continued Israeli attacks, which it noted have resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The statement emphasised that such actions not only endanger innocent lives but also undermine broader diplomatic initiatives to secure peace in the region. It described the strikes as a “blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian principles”.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday condemned the massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
“With the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the USA, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region,” Guterres says on X, stating, “Hostilities must stop immediately.”
Guterres stresses that international law must be respected and that civilians must be protected at all times, calling attacks against them “unacceptable”.
Russia has strongly condemned Wednesday’s Israeli strikes on Lebanon and demanded that the Pakistan-brokered US-Iran ceasefire must include Lebanon.
Russian ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on Thursday that the Israeli actions could derail ongoing negotiations and risk escalating regional hostilities.
Maria Zakharova said that such aggressive action “threatens to derail the negotiation process that was beginning to take shape” and risks an escalation of hostilities in the region.
Widespread international condemnation
Countries and international organisations swiftly condemned the attacks, warning of severe consequences for regional stability and international law.
Qatar denounced the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and a “flagrant violation” of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international humanitarian law, calling on the global community to act decisively to halt the violence.
Egypt said the attacks reflected a “premeditated intent” to undermine diplomatic efforts and warned that they risk dragging the region into “total chaos”.
Türkiye also issued a strong condemnation, stating that the strikes were worsening the humanitarian crisis and urging immediate international action to protect civilians.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticised Israel’s actions as intolerable, calling for Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire, a clear condemnation from the international community, and accountability for what he described as violations of international law.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed solidarity with Lebanon, describing the strikes as “unjustified and unacceptable”, and warned against the risk of a broader conflict that could jeopardise the ceasefire and regional stability.
French President, Pakistan PM condemn aggression in Lebanon
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the telephone conversation, both leaders expressed their serious concern over the ongoing aggression in Lebanon and stressed upon the urgent need to end the violence and killings, so that peace could be re-established in the entire region, the Pakistan PM Office stated.
During their conversation, President Macron congratulated PM Sharif for Pakistan’s mediation efforts that had resulted in the ceasefire between Iran and the US and brought both sides to the negotiating table.
Macron conveyed his good wishes to the Prime Minister for the success of the upcoming peace talks in Islamabad.
PM Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue to strive for peace and stability in the region.
