US-Iran war highlights: Israel-Lebanon talks mark breakthrough, US says ‘direct negotiations’ next

US-Iran war news highlights: The updates to this live blog have ended. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said: “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there.” Trump had earlier told the New York Post that talks could be held in Europe, but half an hour later said of Islamabad, “It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”

Two US officials told AFP that discussions were still underway about a new round of talks. A diplomat from one of the mediating countries said that Tehran and Washington had agreed to it.

The talks could happen Thursday, according to the US officials. The location, timing and composition of the delegations had not been decided, although Islamabad and Geneva are being considered as host cities, they said.

Israel-Lebanon breakthrough

In a statement issued after the two-hour meeting in Washington involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors, the State Department said, “All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue.”

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott added, “The participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.”

It also described the meeting as the first “major high-level engagement” between Israel and Lebanon since 1993.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Iran talks could resume in Pakistan over the next two days.

Iran demands compensation from gulf countries

Earlier in the day, Iran demanded compensation from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan for 'enabling' US-Iran aggression, Press TV reported. Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative Amir-Saeid Iravani recently wrote to UN Secretary General António Guterres and Security Council President Jamal Fares Alrowaiei and rejected recent compensation demands from the five Arab nations saying that under the present circumstances, these nations cannot lawfully invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter (the right to self-defense) vis-à-vis Iran as they facilitated the US-Israel aggression.

The skirmishes between the US and Iran have renewed after the failed Islamabad peace talks over the weekend following which US President Donald Trump announced to shut off the strategic Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iran Guards have asserted complete control of the water passage and have warned any approaching US military vessel with ‘decisive action’, Iran's Press TV reported.

Israel-Lebanon ‘direct talks’ in Washington

Almost a week after Israel pounded Lebanon with deadly strikes that claimed hundreds of lives and threatened the fragile Iran-US truce, Lebanon and Israel will hold direct talks in the US, hosted by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Axios reported.

Fresh Iran-US talks on Thursday

As Islamabad peace talks over the weekend ended without a deal, reports suggest that the stalemate was caused over ‘suspension of nuclear activity’. While the US proposed a suspension for 20 years, Iran renewed the proposal and instead pitched a suspension of five years, the New York Times reported. The same issue had dampened the talks between Tehran and Washington in February that were held in Geneva, days after which US-Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, setting off a region-wide conflict.

Fresh talks are likely to be held on Thursday in Geneva or Pakistan, the Associated Press reported.

Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said that the next round of Iran-US negotiations was expected soon. Asif made these remarks a day after the Islamabad talks failed to clinch a deal.

The US and Iran could be headed towards another round of negotiations, even as tensions remain high, news agency AP reported. US President Donald Trump on Monday said “the right people” had reached out seeking a deal, while Iran’s envoy in Delhi signalled conditional openness to fresh talks but warned Tehran is prepared for “all options”.

Iran's stance on second round of talks

Iranian ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said Tehran is ready for another round of negotiations with the US provided there are no “unlawful demands”, even as it remains fully prepared for escalation if Washington proceeds with its blockade.

US considers another round of talks

US officials are deliberating the possibility of convening another in-person meeting with Iranian officials before the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran expires, although a final decision has not yet been taken, CNN reported. The officials are reviewing potential dates and locations, contingent on the progress of ongoing talks with Iran and regional mediators in the coming days.

Shipping halts in Hormuz Strait

Shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz appeared to be immediately affected. Lloyd’s List Intelligence wrote Sunday that “all traffic” through the Strait stopped after Trump’s announcement on Truth Social. Two vessels that had been leaving the strait reportedly turned back, reported news agency AP.

This comes after limited traffic had only just begun to resume following the earlier pause in hostilities.

US military has 16 warships in the Middle East

But military officials have offered few details about how a blockade of Iranian ports would actually work.

Aside from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the US Navy has 11 destroyers, three amphibious assault ships, and a littoral combat ship, all in the waters of the Middle East, a defense official said.

A second defense official says no US warships are in the Persian Gulf — the body of water that forms most of Iran’s coastline. Trump said the blockade had taken effect Monday.