The United States has indicated that talks with Iran could resume within days, while Israel and Lebanon have launched their first direct negotiations in decades, signaling parallel diplomatic efforts to ease escalating tensions across West Asia.
US President Donald Trump said negotiations between Washington and Tehran may restart in Pakistan within the next two days. In an interview Trump said, “Something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there.”
The comments follow an initial round of direct talks over the weekend that failed to produce a breakthrough. The discussions focused on extending a fragile two-week ceasefire set to expire around April 21, amid heightened tensions following earlier US and Israeli military actions targeting Iranian assets. Major disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, with Washington seeking an end to uranium enrichment, while Tehran is demanding sanctions relief and compensation.
Meanwhile, diplomatic activity has expanded to the Israel-Lebanon front. Lebanon and Israel held preliminary direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting marks the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the early 1980s, as both sides attempt to reduce tensions along the southern Lebanon border.
According to reports, discussions focused on security arrangements and civilian issues, including Israeli military activity and Lebanon’s demand for a withdrawal from contested areas. Israel has also insisted on addressing Hezbollah’s military presence as part of any broader understanding. Lebanese officials have not publicly confirmed remarks attributed to their delegation regarding Hezbollah, while the group itself has rejected the negotiations.
Diplomatic efforts across West Asia are gathering pace, with the United States pushing parallel negotiations on two key fronts. Washington says talks with Iran could resume within days, as both sides attempt to extend a fragile ceasefire and prevent further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, Israel and Lebanon have opened their first direct talks in decades in Washington, focusing on border tensions and security arrangements in southern Lebanon. The United States is mediating both tracks, in a coordinated attempt to stabilise multiple flashpoints across West Asia. While no immediate breakthroughs are expected, the simultaneous diplomatic engagement with Iran and between Israel and Lebanon signals a renewed push to prevent the broader conflict from expanding further across the region.
