Iran: Washington extends the truce, the UN sees a diplomatic opening

“This is an important step towards de-escalation and the creation of an essential space for diplomacy and building trust between Iran and the United States,” said its spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“We encourage all parties to take advantage of this momentum, refrain from any actions that could jeopardize the ceasefire, and engage constructively in negotiations to achieve a lasting and sustainable solution,” he added.

He emphasized that “the Secretary-General fully supports the efforts made by Pakistan to facilitate the continuation of talks” and “hopes that these efforts will contribute to creating favorable conditions for a comprehensive and lasting conflict resolution.”

Seizure of Commercial Ships

Announcing the extension of the ceasefire, US President Donald Trump, however, stated that the United States would continue to block ships to and from Iranian ports. Iran, on the other hand, has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz as long as the American blockade continues and on Wednesday, declared that it had seized two vessels near the strait.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, deemed the attacks and seizures of commercial ships as “unacceptable.”

In a press statement, he once again called for “an end to these irresponsible acts and the immediate release of all innocent ships and crew.” “De-escalation, concrete measures, and the restoration of freedom of navigation are the only way forward,” he said.

Death of a French UN Peacekeeper in Lebanon

In regards to Lebanon, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, expressed the UN’s sadness at the announcement of the death of one of the two French UN Peacekeepers, critically injured in an incident in the south of the country on April 18.

At 31 years old, Corporal Anicet Girardin passed away Wednesday morning in a Paris hospital. He was seriously injured when his demining team, operating within the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was targeted while clearing a road in Ghanduriyah to restore access to isolated UN positions.

He succumbed to his injuries a few days after the death of Sergeant Florian Montorio in the same incident.

“Our initial assessment indicated at the time that the peacekeepers had come under fire from non-state armed groups – likely Hezbollah – during this incident,” Mr. Dujarric recalled.

“We extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues, as well as to the French people and government. Corporal Girardin is the fifth UN Peacekeeper from UNIFIL to lose his life due to the current hostilities while carrying out his duties under the mandate given by the Security Council,” he added.

A third UN Peacekeeper, also critically injured in this incident, was repatriated to Paris on Tuesday and remains under medical care. A fourth peacekeeper, who only sustained minor injuries, has returned to his position within his unit in southern Lebanon.

“Attacks against peacekeepers are unacceptable and must be swiftly investigated so that those responsible can be effectively prosecuted and held accountable. In this regard, the Secretary-General welcomes the commitment expressed by the Lebanese authorities regarding this incident,” said the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

According to the UN, these attacks are part of a broader context characterized by an “unacceptable increase in hostile acts against UNIFIL facilities and its peacekeepers.”

“Restrictions are impeding the resupply of some positions, causing growing concern. We urge all parties to ensure the free movement of our peacekeepers so that they can carry out their mandate safely and effectively,” Mr. Dujarric stated.

Significant Humanitarian Needs

Regarding the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, it remains dire, and the needs are significant despite the ten-day ceasefire that began last week, the spokesperson noted.

“Population displacement remains widespread. While some movements have been observed since the ceasefire, our partners report new trends in secondary displacement, with people moving closer to their homes while remaining displaced,” he said.

UN humanitarian agencies and their partners continue to assist civilians in affected and hard-to-reach areas, supported by the Humanitarian Notification System managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which informs conflict parties of planned aid movements.

Since the start of the conflict, 75 of these movements have been facilitated by this system, reaching people still present in hard-to-reach locations in southern Lebanon.

“Our humanitarian partners and we remain determined to provide vital assistance to those most in need. However, the humanitarian response continues to be outpaced by the scale of needs. We therefore urge donors to increase their contribution and show generosity, and we thank those who have already responded to this call,” Mr. Dujarric concluded.