War in the Middle East: Talks between Washington and Tehran, strikes in southern Lebanon… What to expect

American negotiators are on their way to Pakistan to hold discussions with Iran, which has not confirmed its participation.

Trump claimed that American negotiators were heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran on Monday, April 20. On the same day, he warned that he would maintain the blockade on Iranian ports until an eventual “agreement” with Tehran is reached. Meanwhile, Iran stated that it does not have a “plan for the next round of negotiations at this stage, and no decision has been made on this matter,” according to Tehran. This article details the latest developments in these discussions.

Future talks between the US and Iran are uncertain

American negotiators, led by Vice President JD Vance, are on their way to Pakistan to hold discussions with Iran, as stated by Donald Trump to the New York Post on Monday. Iran, on the other hand, has not yet formulated any plans for the next round of negotiations, as mentioned by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Esma’il Baghaei, questioning the seriousness of the United States in the diplomatic process and alluding to ceasefire violations that are set to expire theoretically from Tuesday night to Wednesday in Tehran.

Donald Trump, in a series of phone interviews on Monday, also told Bloomberg that it was “highly unlikely” that he would extend the ceasefire scheduled for two weeks. If American demands are not met by then, “a lot of bombs will explode,” said the US president in an interview with PBS. When asked about his expectations from a potential agreement with Tehran, he replied, “No nuclear weapons. It’s very simple.”

Maritime traffic is once again paralyzed in the Strait of Hormuz

Maritime traffic has been halted once again on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran and Washington imposing separate blockades. Since the beginning of the blockade, US forces have ordered 27 ships to turn back or return to an Iranian port, as announced by the American military on Monday. While some ships seem to have complied with the requests from the US military, Donald Trump reported on his Truth Social platform that the container ship Touska had been boarded after refusing to stop.

The American president also stated on the same platform that the US blockade on Iranian ports will only be lifted in the event of an “agreement” with Iran. “THE BLOCKADE, which we will not lift until there is a ‘DEAL,’ is completely destroying Iran. They are losing $500 million a day, an unsustainable figure for them, even in the short term,” he wrote.

Israel warns Lebanese against returning to the south

Since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on Friday, thousands of displaced individuals have started to return to some villages in southern Lebanon. However, on Monday, the Israeli army warned civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah activities in the area were a violation of the ceasefire.

The Hezbollah movement will break the “red line” of separation that Israel has set in southern Lebanon, claimed a member of the movement. “We will break this ‘red line’ through resistance (…) by asserting our legitimate right to defend ourselves and our country,” said Hassan Fadlallah to AFP. He reiterated Hezbollah’s rejection of direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv, the first in decades, conducted under the auspices of Washington. He warned that his organization “will not stand idly by in the face of Israeli violations and aggression.”

Lebanese president defends negotiations with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday that direct negotiations with Israel aimed to permanently end the war and Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon, a move rejected by Hezbollah.

Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that came into effect last Friday, the Lebanese national news agency reported an Israeli drone strike in the south, in Qaqaiyat al-Jisr near the Litani River. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, six people were injured. Israeli artillery fire was reported in Houla, a village on the border, with “explosions” and “significant destruction” in Maiss al-Jabal. The Israeli army stated that its soldiers had “identified terrorists” in the areas of Bint Jbeil and the Litani, who were “violating the terms of the ceasefire” before being “eliminated” by the air force.

“The choice of negotiations aims to end hostilities and Israeli occupation in regions of southern Lebanon, and to deploy the [Lebanese] army to the internationally recognized borders with Israel,” affirmed Joseph Aoun. Former Lebanese ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, will lead the Lebanese delegation “in bilateral negotiations,” which will be “separate” from the talks between Iran and the United States, he continued, without specifying when the discussions would take place.