The Israel-Lebanon truce clears the way for Iran and the US to return to the negotiating table in Islamabad

A six-week cessation of brutal offensive -2,196 dead, 7,185 injured, more than a million displaced and massive devastation – which was one of the essential requirements for Iran to return to the negotiating table with the US after the failure of the first round of negotiations last weekend in Islamabad.

“A ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as in Iran.” This was the message conveyed this Thursday by the president of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher. Ghalibafchief negotiator of the Persian delegation in Pakistan, to his Lebanese counterpart.

In a statement, Ghalibaf stressed that in talks with the US to end the war, Iran has “been striving to force our enemies to establish a permanent ceasefire in all conflict zones, in accordance with the agreement.

A round of negotiations that almost did not take place precisely because of the Israeli aggression in Lebanon. So much Iran and mediator Pakistan insisted that Lebanon was part of the 15-day ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington, while The United States and, above all, Israel left it out, arguing that they were different conflicts.

Something that the Netanyahu Government tried to make clear from the first moment. It is no coincidence that on March 8, the first day of the truce between the US and Iran, he launched his most brutal and deadliest attack against Lebanon since the beginning of his offensive: more than 160 bombs in just ten minutes against more than a hundred Hezbollah targets.

The result of this wave of attacks, without prior warning of evacuation and many of them in civilian areas, was devastating: at least 254 dead and more than 1,000 injured, in addition to constructions and buildings completely reduced to rubble.

Just one day later, Netanyahu insisted in a video that there was no ceasefire in Lebanon, a country with which he intended to achieve, however, “a historic and lasting peace agreement” after the “direct negotiations” that he ordered to be undertaken.

Negotiations that pursued two objectives: eThe first of them is to disarm the Lebanese Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah. and the second to achieve “a historic and lasting peace agreement” between Israel and Lebanon.

“I have already achieved four peace agreements with Arab countries and I intend to achieve more,” he added, referring to the so-called Abraham Accords by which Israel normalized relations with the Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

As a result of this order, a first meeting took place last Tuesday in Washington between the delegations of Tel Aviv and Beirut in Washington in the presence of the American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

Trump overtakes Netanyahu

It is ceasefire in Lebanon is vital for a Trump Administration you need to try to reach a peace agreement with Iran before the 15-day truce he decreed expires next Wednesday.

Such is the need that even The Republican did not hesitate to get ahead of his partner Netanyahu to announce the agreement through his Truth Social network. truce for 10 days between Israel and Lebanon.

And announcement that surprised the Hebrew president meeting with his security cabinet to discuss precisely this ceasefire, which caused the discomfort of some of its most radical ministers.

In a later appearance, the Republican opened the door to extending the ceasefire with Iran beyond Wednesday and revealed that the Next meeting between the United States and Iran could take place this weekend.

“We now have a very good relationship with Iran, it’s hard to believe,” he stressed in reference to what he called a “regime change.”

Hours before the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseththreatened Iran with new attacks if he does not choose a “prosperous future” and sit down to negotiate, while Dan Caine, the head of the US Army, assured that the Navy will maintain the naval blockade for “as long as necessary.”

“Opportunity for a historic agreement”

Trump’s intention is reunite Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House for the “first significant talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983.”

Hours later, the Hebrew prime minister confirmed the ceasefire: “We have the opportunity to close a historic agreement with Lebanon.”

And announcement that was also well received by Beirut. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire announcement in a post on X, thanking countries that have attempted to negotiate a ceasefire in Lebanon, including the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan.

The other leg of the conflict, Hezbollahin its first reaction it has already given signs that in principle it will respect this agreement, that is, as long as Israel ceases its aggression.

Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army has already announced that no plans to withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon and will keep an area of ​​about 10 kilometers occupied.

The text of the ceasefire agreement allows the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to “take all necessary measures in self-defense” against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”, but prohibits “offensive” operations against any Lebanese target.

Unrest in Israel

Despite Netanyahu’s statements, the truce has received criticism in Israel from the leaders of different opposition parties upon arriving without the Israeli Army having finished off Hezbollah

“The confrontation in Lebanon can only end in one way: by eliminating the threat to the northern communities (Hezbollah) permanently,” the opposition leader wrote in XYair Lapid, who took the opportunity to promise that he would do so, if he won the elections being held this year.

Also the leader of the far-right formation Israel Beytenu (‘Israel Our House’), Avigdor Liberman, cried out against the agreement in a video statement, in which he stated that it constitutes a “betrayal” of the citizens of northern Israel.

“One more time, Hezbollah has been given time to recover and become stronger. “The war must not end without a clear victory and the elimination of Hezbollah,” he added.

The rightist Gadi Eisenkot, at the head of Yashar! (“Straight!”), stated that the truce “must come from a position of strength.” “In two and a half years of war, a pattern has developed in which a truce is imposed on us: in Gaza, in Iran and now in Lebanon. Netanyahu does not know how to convert military achievements into diplomatic achievements,” he adds.

The leader of Yashar! He also pointed to the safety of the northern population, the closest to the border with Lebanon and susceptible to occasional fire from Hezbollah, as the objective to be guaranteed.

“The ceasefire agreement is a step in the right direction,” the leader of the social democratic coalition Los Democrats wrote on social networks. Yair Golan, who in this way sent a discordant message with respect to the rest of the politicians outside the Government.

“Furthermore, it comes too late. Months of suffering could have been saved for northern residents, and soldiers’ lives could have been saved,” he continued. However, he assured that The truce is a “maneuver imposed on the government”the result of external pressure.

The leftist Arab-Jewish coalition Hadash Taal He also highlighted the importance of the agreement, but assured that it will not offer real security. “Peace with all the peoples of the region, including Lebanon, will only be achieved with the end of the occupation and the creation of a Palestinian State alongside the State of Israel,” his statement states.