Despite the absence of a precise schedule, the president of the United States has deemed it “possible” to resume discussions with the Iranian regime. Lebanese and Israeli representatives are expected in Washington on Thursday, April 23 to continue the talks.
Donald Trump confirmed the information on Wednesday, April 22, via SMS. The president was questioned by a journalist from the New York Post about the possibility of resuming discussions with Iran within the next “37 to 72 hours” (by Friday), which he considered “possible,” as reported by TF1.
A few hours later, Karoline Leavitt, the spokesperson for the Trump administration, clarified: “The president has not set a deadline to receive a proposal from Iran.” “Ultimately, the schedule will be imposed by Donald Trump,” she added.
A naval blockade linked to the ceasefire
These American statements coincided with acts of “piracy” by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, which they do not control, denounced by the White House spokesperson. On Wednesday, April 22, the Revolutionary Guards – the ideological army of the Iranian regime – forcibly intercepted two ships.
The president of the Iranian Parliament justified this by stating that “a complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by a naval blockade,” as reported by Le Huffington Post. An American blockade had forced “31 ships to turn back or return to their port,” said the American military commander for the Middle East (Centcom).
Talks between Lebanon and Israel
In parallel, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will be welcomed in Washington on Thursday, April 23. The agenda for the talks includes an extension of at least one month of the truce between the two countries, in effect since April 17.
While Israel stated that they have no “serious disagreements” with Lebanon and wish to “work together” against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, as reported by La Croix, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was “killed in an Israeli airstrike” the day before in al-Tiri, southern Lebanon. Published on April 23 at 08:22, by Mina Peltier, 6Médias
