Washington: Diplomatic efforts to arrange negotiations between the United States and Iran are continuing following Washington's decision to extend the ceasefire. Just hours before the truce was due to expire, President Donald Trump announced an extension until Tehran presents a proposal to end the war. However, he also said he had issued directives for the military to maintain the US blockade on Iranian ports.
According to Oman News Agency, the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not travel to Pakistan for what was intended to be a second round of peace talks, adding that any updates on negotiations would be announced by the White House. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the US decision to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to continue. Iran has not yet announced whether it will take part in the talks.
Pakistan continues its intensive mediation efforts to bring the United States and Iran together in Islamabad. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both sides to "consider extending the ceasefire and give dialogue and diplomacy a chance," according to a foreign ministry statement.
On Lebanon, the United States said it would host a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday aimed at moving towards an agreement. On the ground, Israeli forces continued their aggression against southern Lebanon despite the truce. A series of airstrikes and artillery shelling hit the towns of Al-Khiyam, Mais Al-Jabal and Beit Lif, causing violent explosions and destroying homes in a breach of the ceasefire that began on 15 April 2026.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported flare bombs over the Al-Jalahiya area in Al-Khiyam and a very loud explosion in the town. The army carried out a detonation in Mais Al-Jabal, blew up and destroyed homes in Beit Lif, and uprooted ancient trees at the town's entrances, the agency added. Lebanon's Disaster Risk Management Unit said in its daily report that the total number of displaced people in shelters had reached 118,624, and the number of displaced families 30,815. The death toll has risen to 2,454 and the number of injured to 7,658 since 2 March 2026.