War in the Middle East: United States hosts direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, boycotted by Hezbollah

Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Tuesday, April 14, in Paris, that he had spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and American President Donald Trump, calling on them to “resume the interrupted negotiations in Islamabad, clarify misunderstandings, and avoid further escalation.” The French Head of State emphasized the importance of a ceasefire, stating that it is essential for it to be “strictly respected by all and include Lebanon.” “It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without inspections or tolls, as soon as possible,” he continued. Follow our live updates.

• A French-British conference scheduled for Friday in Paris. Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a video conference on the Strait of Hormuz in Paris on Friday, “for non-belligerent countries ready to contribute” to a “multilateral and purely defensive mission,” confirmed Elysée on Tuesday. At this stage, the two countries have not discussed the number of participants in this meeting, the principle of which was announced on Monday by Emmanuel Macron.
• Pakistan seeks to restart negotiations. “Efforts are underway to bring [Iran and the United States] back to the negotiating table,” according to two high-ranking Pakistani sources speaking to AFP. “Written outlines of demands and concessions have already been exchanged, so that both parties are aware of possible compromises,” added one of these officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
• A pause in Iran’s nuclear program? During the talks in Islamabad, the United States requested a 20-year suspension of the Iranian uranium enrichment program. This pause would be accompanied by a relaxation of sanctions, according to The Wall Street Journal. But Iran has proposed to suspend its nuclear activities for only five years, according to The New York Times.
• Talks between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to meet in Washington for preliminary direct peace talks, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Refusing to participate in these discussions, the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, demanded their “cancellation,” stating that such discussions were a “surrender.”