US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, following talks at the White House, as tensions across the Middle East remain high.
Speaking after the meeting, Trump said the extension would allow more time for negotiations but cautioned that reaching a broader peace agreement would be complex.
“I don’t want to rush myself,” he said, referring to ongoing efforts to secure a deal with Iran.
The ceasefire extension comes despite continued hostilities involving Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group at the center of the conflict.
Israeli officials have warned the truce is not fully holding, with reports of rocket fire from southern Lebanon and retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces.
Israel’s UN envoy said the situation remains unstable, noting that Hezbollah continues to pose a threat.
Analysts say any long-term peace deal would likely require the disarmament of Hezbollah — a highly contentious issue given the group’s influence in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate.
The US military confirmed it had boarded a vessel carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, as part of efforts to enforce restrictions on Iran’s النفط exports.
Trump also claimed the US has “total control” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, where shipping activity has been significantly disrupted.
Iranian officials, however, rejected claims of internal divisions, instead projecting unity in the face of US pressure.
Trump insisted he is seeking a diplomatic resolution but warned that military action remains an option if negotiations fail.
The ongoing conflict has rattled global energy markets, with oil prices rising despite the ceasefire extension. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for global oil shipments — have slowed maritime traffic and increased uncertainty.
Calls for de-escalation are growing internationally. Pope Leo XIV urged both the US and Iran to return to negotiations, warning that civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict.
“I would encourage the continuation of dialogue for peace,” he said, adding that war only deepens suffering and division.
While the ceasefire extension offers a temporary pause in fighting, major obstacles remain.
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, their first direct talks in decades, are still in early stages, and the broader US-Iran conflict remains unresolved.
For now, the region faces a fragile calm, with diplomacy racing against the risk of renewed escalation.
