Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his support for US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military attacks against Iran for two weeks. This stance comes amid dramatic shifts in the region after weeks of direct confrontation that erupted last February, with Netanyahu linking this support to Tehran's commitment to open navigation straits and cease all forms of hostile attacks.
In a move that raised questions about the unity of the field position, Netanyahu stressed that this agreement regarding the Iranian front does not extend to include the Lebanese arena. He clarified in his statements that military operations against Hezbollah are ongoing, indicating an Israeli desire to separate negotiation tracks and prevent Iran from gaining advantages for its regional allies within the initial understandings with Washington.
On the other hand, international media sources quoted a senior White House official confirming that Israel is an original party to the ceasefire agreement announced by Trump. The official indicated that Tel Aviv has already agreed to suspend its intensive air campaign, to make way for ongoing diplomatic negotiations to reach a final formula that ends the conflict that has lasted for weeks.
In a related context, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed different details, confirming that the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States, and their allies have agreed to an immediate ceasefire on all fronts. Sharif clarified that the agreement takes effect immediately and includes Lebanese territories and any other areas experiencing armed conflict related to this regional confrontation.
High-level Israeli security sources reported that the understandings between Washington and Tehran explicitly include a cessation of fighting between the Israeli army and Lebanese Hezbollah. According to these sources, the agreement stipulates a mutual ceasefire in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, which contradicts the public statements recently made by Netanyahu.
US President Donald Trump had earlier announced a two-week truce, describing it as a historic opportunity to conclude a long-term peace agreement. Trump affirmed that both the American and Iranian sides agreed to cease mutual shelling, noting that this period would be sufficient to address the remaining points of contention, which were significantly reduced during recent consultations.
Trump clarified that the truce is conditional on full and immediate Iranian approval to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, considering that the United States has achieved and exceeded its military objectives. The US President revealed receiving a ten-point Iranian proposal, which he described as a valid basis for negotiation to end the chronic crisis that has plagued the region's stability throughout the past period.
These developments come at a time when Israel is suffering from significant field pressures, as military briefings acknowledged the difficulty of decisively ending the battle in Lebanon without a full occupation of the territories. The ongoing aggression has also caused the displacement of nearly one million Lebanese, amid growing Israeli fears of sliding into a long-term war of attrition that brings back bitter past military experiences in southern Lebanon.
Reports from informed sources indicate that the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation sensed a state of surprise in political circles in Tel Aviv due to the timing of Trump's announcement. It appears that the final updates to the agreement reached the Israeli leadership at the last minute, which explains the contradiction in statements between welcoming the truce with Iran and insisting on continuing the war in Lebanon.
Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, is scheduled to host delegations from the United States and Iran next Friday, in an attempt to finalize the comprehensive agreement. This mediation aims to transform the temporary truce into a permanent cessation of hostilities that began on February 28, which the international community is cautiously awaiting.
Domestically in Israel, Netanyahu faces criticism regarding the absence of the final verbatim text of the agreement, which political analysts pointed out, considering that the lack of clarity could lead to the collapse of the truce. Tehran, for its part, insists on the necessity of including Lebanon in any settlement, considering that the security of the region is an indivisible whole, which puts additional pressure on the US administration to persuade its ally Israel to comply.
In conclusion, the question remains about the ability of the next two weeks to shape a new reality in the Middle East, away from the language of missiles and airstrikes. While Trump speaks of 'the verge of a final solution,' Netanyahu insists on keeping the northern front ablaze, leaving the region facing open scenarios between comprehensive peace or a return to comprehensive escalation.
The ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump for two weeks does not include military operations in Lebanon.
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Netanyahu stirs controversy: Truce with Iran does not include Lebanon despite Trump's announcement