Main developments
Donald Trump said the next round of US-Iran talks could happen over the weekend and that Iran has agreed to never acquire a nuclear weapon.
Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning on Thursday but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would keep Israeli troops in Lebanon during the temporary truce.
Hizbollah said any ceasefire agreement with Israel must encompass all of Lebanon and not allow ‘freedom of movement’ in Lebanon for Israelis.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon was ready to restart combat operations against Iran should Tehran not agree to a deal with Washington.
His comments came as the US expanded its blockade of Iranian ports and coastal waters to include all Iranian ships and sanctioned vessels “regardless of location”.
Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir was in Tehran amid a push for the US and Iran to restart peace talks mediated by Islamabad.
No date has been set for a resumption of direct negotiations, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
The conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah has become a crucial sticking point in broader efforts to end the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The S&P 500 hit a fresh record high on Thursday, while oil prices rose with the international benchmark Brent crude jumping nearly 5 per cent to settle at $99.39 a barrel.
Trump says he hopes ‘Hezbollah acts nicely’ as ceasefire begins
US President Donald Trump has said he hopes “Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time”, as the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began.
“It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do,” Trump continued in a post on Truth Social. “No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!”
The two countries agreed a 10-day ceasefire deal on Thursday. Lebanon’s state news agency reported Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire began.
Lebanon’s state news agency reports Israeli shelling after ceasefire begins
Lebanon’s state news agency reported Israeli shelling on several towns in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire came into effect at midnight local time.
The towns of Khiam and Debbine were struck by artillery fire, NNA reported, adding that Israeli overflights were also ongoing in the Bekaa Valley and other parts of southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Beirut’s skies convulsed with celebratory gunfire and heavy RPG launches in the moments after the 10-day truce came into effect. Pro-Hizbollah supporters gathered in the militant group’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of the capital, waving the group’s signature yellow flags and hoisting up photos of its leaders.
Local media showed traffic on the main roads leading to southern Lebanon already building up. It was not clear how many residents of southern Lebanon would return home, however, as the last main bridge connected north to south was destroyed by Israel on Thursday.