Israel has continued its attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, as the parties involved in the ceasefire voiced contradicting views on whether it applies to Lebanon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that talks with Iran on ending the fighting will start Saturday in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Speaking to reporters in Hungary, Vance said President Trump “has struck a good deal for the American people.”
But he added, “the Iranians have got to take the next step.” He said that otherwise “the president has a lot of options to go back to the war.”
Vance also said, “One of the main subjects of negotiation is that we want Iran to not be able to make a nuclear weapon.”
As for the fighting in Lebanon, Israel and White House Press Secretary Leavitt say the country is not included in the ceasefire, while Pakistan, which mediated the ceasefire, and Iran say it is.
Iran’s state-run broadcaster said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian conveyed this understanding to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in their phone conversation on Wednesday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that if attacks on Lebanon are not halted immediately, they will fulfil their duty and deliver a “regret-inducing response” to “the malicious aggressors” in the region.
Iranian media reported on Thursday that the Revolutionary Guard navy issued a map showing shipping routes that all vessels should follow when passing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has said it will maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire. It remains unclear whether the passage of vessels will be guaranteed.
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