Direct talks between Lebanon and Israel began in Washington for the first time since 1993, with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging both sides to seize a historic opportunity for peace. The meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors comes amid escalating regional tensions and follows years of hostility complicated by the involvement of Hezbollah and Iran. Lebanon’s president expressed hope that the talks would help end the suffering of the Lebanese people.

The negotiations opened despite strong opposition from Hezbollah, which called the discussions futile and launched rocket attacks on northern Israel as the meeting got underway. Israel said it seeks peace and normalisation with Lebanon but insisted that Hezbollah remains the central obstacle to stability. Previous fighting, including heavy Israeli strikes on Beirut and a ground invasion, has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over one million.

At the same time, President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to curb Tehran’s funding and push it back to negotiations. Iran condemned the move as piracy and warned of consequences if its ports were threatened, while China criticised the blockade as dangerous. Despite the tensions, a fragile two-week truce between Washington and Tehran remains in place, and diplomatic efforts continue as both sides consider proposals to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.