The U.S.-Iran ceasefire is under strain as regional conflicts, including Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, complicate diplomatic efforts ahead of scheduled talks in Pakistan this weekend. On Thursday, President Donald Trump cast doubt on the ceasefire’s effectiveness, stating on social media: “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!” The White House announced that Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the U.S. delegation in Pakistan, joined by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, in an effort to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. Israel’s ongoing war against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon has disrupted progress between the U.S. and Iran. Hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced, Israel launched strikes on Lebanon, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz. According to health officials, the Israeli strikes killed more than 300 people in central Beirut and other parts of the country and injured 1,150 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, stating that the war against Lebanon was not part of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. On Thursday, he said he authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon. “I instructed the cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon in order to achieve two goals: One, the disarmament of Hezbollah and the second: A historic, sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. The Strait of Hormuz has seen significantly reduced traffic since the ceasefire began. The data firm Kpler reported that four tankers and three carriers crossed the strait on Thursday, bringing the total number of ships passing through to at least 12. It’s important to note that other ships not transmitting their locations may have also passed through. Before the war began on Feb. 28, more than 100 ships typically crossed the Strait of Hormuz daily, underscoring the impact of the conflict on global shipping.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire is under strain as regional conflicts, including Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, complicate diplomatic efforts ahead of scheduled talks in Pakistan this weekend.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump cast doubt on the ceasefire’s effectiveness, stating on social media: “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!”
The White House announced that Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the U.S. delegation in Pakistan, joined by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, in an effort to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.
Israel’s ongoing war against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon has disrupted progress between the U.S. and Iran. Hours after the ceasefire agreement was announced, Israel launched strikes on Lebanon, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz.
According to health officials, the Israeli strikes killed more than 300 people in central Beirut and other parts of the country and injured 1,150 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, stating that the war against Lebanon was not part of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. On Thursday, he said he authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon.
“I instructed the cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon in order to achieve two goals: One, the disarmament of Hezbollah and the second: A historic, sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.
The Strait of Hormuz has seen significantly reduced traffic since the ceasefire began. The data firm Kpler reported that four tankers and three carriers crossed the strait on Thursday, bringing the total number of ships passing through to at least 12. It’s important to note that other ships not transmitting their locations may have also passed through.
Before the war began on Feb. 28, more than 100 ships typically crossed the Strait of Hormuz daily, underscoring the impact of the conflict on global shipping.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
