Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with US President Donald Trump saying American troops will remain “in place” until Tehran fully implements the ceasefire agreement.
On Wednesday, Iranian media again announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, ending the war in Lebanon was part of the agreement. When the deal was announced, the prime minister of Pakistan, whose country brokered it, said in a social media post that it extended to “Lebanon and other countries.”
But much about the agreement appeared unclear on Wednesday, as the sides presented very different visions of the terms and statements from senior Iranian regime officials signaled serious disagreement.
Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities said 182 people were killed in the country on Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. At the same time, residents and local officials denied that the affected buildings were military targets.
The start date for Iran talks remains unknown
In this environment, the start date for Iran talks remains unclear.
Some sources say that the meetings should start on Friday, while others, citing a briefing by White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt, say that the first round of discussions has been postponed to Saturday.
A number of publications quoted an official at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad as saying that the hotel is preparing to host the delegations on Saturday.
In addition, according to media reports, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry has requested the details of journalists from accredited publications, which may also indicate preparations for the weekend events.
Against this backdrop, the divergent statements from the sides only add to the sense of uncertainty surrounding the timetable for the talks.
