War in the Middle East: Talks between Washington and Tehran, Strikes in Southern Lebanon… What is Needed

American negotiators are on their way to Pakistan to hold discussions with Iran, which has not confirmed its participation.

Donald Trump has stated that American negotiators are on their way to Pakistan to hold discussions with Iran, on Monday, April 20th. On the same day, he warned that he would maintain the blockade on Iranian ports until a possible “agreement” is reached with Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran has not at this stage proposed a plan for the next negotiation cycle and no decision has been made on this matter, Tehran revealed. Franceinfo provides an overview of the information from this day.

Uncertainty surrounds the upcoming talks between the United States and Iran

American negotiators, led by Vice President JD Vance, are heading to Pakistan for discussions with Iran, as stated by Donald Trump to the *New York Post* on Monday. On the other hand, Iran has not at this stage proposed a plan for the next negotiation cycle and no decision has been made on this matter, Iranian Foreign Minister Esma’il Baghaei informed, casting doubt on the seriousness of the United States in the diplomatic process and citing violations of the ceasefire that theoretically expires from Tuesday to Wednesday night, Tehran time.

Donald Trump, who had numerous phone interviews on Monday, also told Bloomberg that it was “very unlikely” he would extend the two-week ceasefire deadline. This ultimatum expires “Wednesday evening, Washington time,” he further stated. If American demands are not met by then, “many bombs will explode,” the American president said, this time to the PBS channel. Asked by the channel about what he expects from a possible agreement with Tehran, he said: “No nuclear weapons. It’s very simple.”

Maritime traffic is once again paralyzed in the Strait of Hormuz

Maritime traffic was halted once again on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran and Washington each impose separate blockades. Since the start of the blockade, the U.S. forces have ordered 27 ships to turn back or return to an Iranian port, the American military revealed on Monday. While some ships seem to have complied with the requests of the American military, Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the container ship Touska was seized after refusing to stop.

The American president also stated on the same platform that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports would only be lifted in the event of an “agreement” with Iran. “THE BLOCKADE, which we will not lift until there is a ‘DEAL,’ is completely destroying Iran. They are losing $500 million a day, an unsustainable figure for them, even in the short term,” he wrote.

On Monday, Emmanuel Macron denounced “errors on both sides,” American and Iranian, regarding the Strait of Hormuz and called for “everyone to calm down.” “Following the American decision to maintain a targeted blockade on Ormuz, especially concerning Iran, the Iranian authorities have changed their initial position [on reopening the strait]. I think it’s a mistake by both sides,” the French president stated at a press conference in Gdansk, northern Poland. He also commented on the warning shots fired at a ship from the French shipping company CMA CGM on Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz. “France was not involved or specifically targeted by these shots,” Emmanuel Macron assessed. “All of this should not lead us to escalation. All of this should rather lead us to consolidate what was achieved on Friday, the unconditional reopening, without selection, without toll fees, of the Strait of Hormuz,” the French president emphasized.

Israel warns Lebanese against returning to the south

Since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect on Friday, thousands of displaced people have started to return to certain locations in southern Lebanon. However, on Monday, the Israeli army warned civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah’s activities in this area constituted a violation of the ceasefire.

Hezbollah will break the “red line” of separation that Israel has established in southern Lebanon, confirmed one of the movement’s MPs. “We will break this ‘red line’ through resistance (…) by asserting our legitimate right to defend ourselves and our country,” Hassan Fadlallah told AFP. He reiterated Hezbollah’s rejection of direct negotiations between Beirut and Israel, the first in decades conducted under the auspices of Washington. He warned that his organization “will not stand idly by in the face of Israeli violations and aggressions.”

Lebanese President defends negotiations with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday that direct negotiations with Israel aimed to permanently end the war and Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon, a step rejected by Hezbollah.

Despite the ceasefire in effect since Friday between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese national news agency reported an Israeli drone strike in the south, in Qaqaiyat al-Jisr near the Litani River. Six people were injured, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Israeli artillery shelling was reported in Houla, a village on the border, by the agency, which also mentioned “explosions” and “major destruction” in Maiss al-Jabal. The Israeli army stated that its soldiers had “identified terrorists” in the Bint Jbeil and Litani areas, who were “violating the terms of the ceasefire,” before being “eliminated” by the air force.

“The choice of negotiations aims to end hostilities and Israeli occupation in regions of southern Lebanon and to deploy the [Lebanese] army to internationally recognized borders with Israel,” Joseph Aoun stated. The former Lebanese ambassador to Washington, Simon Karam, will lead the Lebanese delegation “in bilateral negotiations,” which will be “separate” from the talks between Iran and the United States, he continued, without specifying when the discussions would take place.