US-Iran War Day 43: Iran raises ‘Lebanon’ condition in truce talks; Trump pushes for Hormuz access

US Israel Iran War Day 43 News: The conflict remains under a fragile ceasefire, with both sides set to hold negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday in a bid to end their six-week-long war. However, the talks have been thrown into doubt after Tehran insisted they cannot proceed without prior commitments on Lebanon and sanctions.

The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance and including President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, was on its way to Islamabad after a refuelling stop in Paris.

The Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, arrived on Friday.

Follow our live coverage of the West Asia war here

Iran arrives for talks

• Iran’s delegation arrived in Islamabad for ceasefire talks with the United States
• The Islamabad talks is expected to cover sensitive points, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment and the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz

Israel won’t discuss ceasefire

• Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter says Lebanese counterpart ‘refused to discuss a ceasefire with the Hezbollah terrorist organization’
• Israel “agreed to begin formal peace negotiations” with the Lebanese government

Read more: Ceasefire deal brings relief to some in Iran, but Trump’s threat to end a civilization still echoes

Trump’s priority

• Ahead of Islamabad talks, Trump says Strait of Hormuz will open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation
• Trump says his top priority in peace talks was to ensure Tehran can’t have a nuclear weapon.

Trump has sent Vance to Pakistan to meet with top Iranian officials in a bid to reach a peace deal following a two-week ceasefire that was agreed on Tuesday.

Lebanon-Israel talks

• Lebanon’s presidency said meeting will be held ‘to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under US auspices’