Israel supports U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks but said the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday.
The statement said Israel backed the U.S. move on the condition that Tehran immediately opens the Strait of Hormuz and halts attacks against the United States, Israel and other countries in the region.
The remarks followed Washington’s announcement of a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran aimed at easing tensions and creating room for negotiations.
Israel also said it supports U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile or “terror” threat to the United States, Israel and Arab countries in the region, adding that Washington has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving these shared objectives in upcoming talks.
Iran said Wednesday that negotiations with the United States will begin Friday, April 10, in Islamabad.
Two White House officials earlier confirmed that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and would suspend its bombing campaign on Iran.
However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the deal, said in a post on X that the agreement included a halt to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.
Israel’s office, however, clarified that Lebanon is not covered by the truce.
The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has killed at least 1,500 people and displaced about 1.2 million others.
Lebanon was drawn into the conflict after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Tehran, two days after Iran was attacked by Israel and the United States.
The attack triggered a renewed Israeli ground and air offensive in Lebanon.
