Hezbollah Rejects Agreements from Lebanon-Israel Talks
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has declared it will not abide by any agreements that may emerge from direct Lebanon-Israel negotiations taking place in the United States, a senior Hezbollah official stated. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah’s political council, made these remarks on the eve of expected talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US.
This meeting marks the first time in decades that envoys from Lebanon and Israel, which lack diplomatic relations, will engage in direct face-to-face discussions.
“As for the outcomes of this negotiation between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,” Safa told the Associated Press.
Separately, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Kassem urged Lebanon to withdraw from the talks with Israel during a televised address preceding the scheduled meeting.
Background of the Conflict and Casualties
The recent escalation was triggered by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel on 2 March, following US and Israeli strikes. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have resulted in at least 2,055 fatalities, including 252 women, 165 children, and 87 medical workers, with 6,588 others wounded. The conflict has displaced over one million people.
Lebanon’s government, which maintains a commitment to disarm Hezbollah, initially called for direct talks early in the war. Israel announced its approval of such talks last week.
Welcome to ’s ongoing coverage of the Middle East crisis.
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Commences
The blockade in the Gulf began on Monday, intensifying the six-week-old conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran into a test of economic resilience.
US Central Command (Centcom) did not issue a formal announcement regarding the blockade’s commencement but had indicated it would take effect at 5:30 pm Iranian time on Monday. The blockade applies to any ships entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas, while vessels using non-Iranian ports would not be impeded.
Donald Trump claimed that 34 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the gateway to the Gulf, though he provided no supporting evidence. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president also stated:
“We’ve been called by the other side,” who he said would “like to make a deal very badly.”
Trump declared the blockade would affect all Iranian ports along the strait starting Monday. Prior to the war, approximately 20% of the global oil and gas supply transited this waterway. Both seafarers and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received advisories indicating that Trump’s blockade would apply to all ship traffic, regardless of the vessel’s flag.
Trump asserted that Iran seeks a deal but emphasized that the US would not accept any agreement permitting Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
“We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world,” he said during a last-minute press conference at the White House on Monday.
After receiving a McDonald’s delivery at the start of the press conference, Trump employed combative language regarding Iran.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we’re going to get the dust back. We’ll get it back, either we’ll get it back from them, or we’ll take it,” he said.
When questioned about a possible prior ultimatum concerning Iran, Trump responded:
“I don’t want to comment on that but it won’t be pleasant.”
Diplomatic Efforts and Reactions
Talks are anticipated in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US, marking the first direct face-to-face meeting between envoys from Lebanon and Israel in decades. Lebanese officials aim to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Reports indicate ongoing discussions between US officials and Tehran. One official told CNN:
“There is continued engagement between the US and Iran and forward motion on trying to get an agreement.”
Meanwhile, some members of the US administration are deliberating internally about the potential format of a second meeting with Iranian officials, should such an opportunity arise, CNN reported.
President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media following the pontiff’s call for an end to the war, accusing the pope of attempting to appease the “radical left.” The pope responded that he had “no intention to debate” Trump over Iran but would continue advocating for peace. US Vice President JD Vance urged the Vatican to “stick to matters of morality.”
