West Asia War: Israel yields after nearly breaking US' olive branch

Dubai|Beirut|Islamabad: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he is seeking direct talks with Beirut, a day after the worst bombardment of the war killed more than 300 people in Lebanon and placed the US-Iran ceasefire in jeopardy.

Netanyahu said, "In light of Lebanon's repeated requests, I instructed the cabinet to start direct negotiations as soon as possible. They will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations."

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An Israeli official said talks were expected to begin in Washington next week.

Meanwhile, on the ceasefire front, US President Donald Trump said on social media that his surge of warships and troops will remain around Iran "until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with." He also insisted Iran would not be able to build nuclear weapons and "the Strait of Hormuz will be open and safe."

But there was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the Strait, with Lebanon attacks cited as a key sticking point.

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Head of Iran's nuclear energy agency also ruled out any restrictions on enrichment of uranium, saying the demand by the US and Israel "will not come true." Mohammad Eslami was quoted as saying, "The claims and demands of our enemies to restrict Iran's enrichment programme are merely wishes that will be buried." Tehran is also pressing for total lifting of sanctions that have crippled its economy and acknowledgment of its control over the strait, previously freely open to trade.

In Pakistan, authorities were preparing for the first round of US-Iran talks.

Washington and Israel say Lebanon is not covered by Trump's ceasefire. But Iran and Pakistan say it was explicitly part of the deal. A host of countries, including Britain and France, concur.