U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce the intensity of strikes on Lebanon.
NBC News quoted a U.S. official as saying that the request came as part of efforts to improve the chances of successful negotiations with Iran.

In a related development, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said that Pakistan informed Tehran that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the American delegation in the upcoming negotiations to be held in Islamabad.
He added that “based on this, it is likely that the Iranian delegation will be headed by the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during these talks.”

The Iranian official also stressed the need to establish a protocol ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in coordination with the Sultanate of Oman and possibly with international participation, amid rising regional tensions.