Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by three weeks, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the broader conflict involving Iran remain stalled, officials said on Thursday, April 23rd.
U.S. president Donald Trump announced the extension following meetings in Washington with ambassadors from both countries. The truce, which had been due to expire on Sunday, will now remain in place despite ongoing tensions along the border.
Trump told reporters
I think there’s a very good chance of having peace. I think it should be an easy one.
The extension comes despite recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon and renewed rocket fire by the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, which was not directly involved in the Washington discussions.
At the same time, efforts by the United States to engage Iran in broader peace talks have made little progress. Prospective negotiations, reportedly expected to take place in Pakistan, remain uncertain, with no clear indication that diplomacy will resume soon.
Iranian media also reported explosions over Tehran, marking the first such incidents since the ceasefire took effect two weeks ago. The cause of the blasts was not immediately clear, although an Israeli security source said Israel was not currently conducting strikes inside Iran.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has effectively halted maritime traffic. Trump took to social media, declaring
I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t—The clock is ticking!
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