Iran US War Highlights: Iran talks ‘could be happening over next two days’, says Trump

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Donald Trump urged Republicans to “UNIFY” and support a “clean extension” of FISA Section 702 in the House

He said he is working with House Speaker Mike Johnson and committee chairs Jim Jordan and Rick Crawford

Trump pushed a procedural “test vote” and urged GOP lawmakers to back the bill in the House Rules Committee

He described FISA 702 as essential for national security and “vital” for US military operations

Trump claimed the surveillance authority contributes to “tremendous SUCCESS” in operations involving Iran and Venezuela

He argued the law is necessary to “protect the Homeland, Troops, and Diplomats”

Lebanon envoy Nada Hamadeh Moawad said the date and venue for the next Israel–Lebanon talks will be announced “in due course”

She described the Washington meeting as a “preliminary meeting” and said it was constructive, called for an immediate ceasefire amid ongoing conflict

Urged return of displaced Lebanese civilians to their homes, rReaffirmed need to fully implement the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement

Stressed preservation of Lebanon’s territorial integrity and state sovereignty

Yechiel Leiter, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, praised Lebanese counterparts for cooperation despite pressure from Hezbollah

Leiter highlighted rare alignment, saying both sides are “on the same side of the equation”

He stressed shared goal of “liberating Lebanon” from Iran-backed Hezbollah influence

Talks signal tentative convergence between Israel and the Western-backed Lebanese army

Both Israel and Lebanon have struggled to forcibly disarm Hezbollah

First high-level Israel-Lebanon meeting in decades described as “productive” by the US State Department

Talks held in Washington between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and ambassadors of both countries

Meeting lasted around two hours, focusing on next steps in diplomacy

All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue

Talks come amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon

Hezbollah not represented in the discussions and has opposed the talks

Israel reiterates demand for Hezbollah’s disarmament as part of any broader agreement

Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s US envoy, described US-Israel-Lebanon talks in a highly positive tone

Leiter said there were multiple points of agreement among the parties, indicated progress in discussions involving the US, Israel and Lebanon

He says Israel wants Lebanon to “completely” distance itself from Iran, also seeks a full break from Iran-backed Hezbollah

Leiter said Hezbollah has been “dramatically weakened”, claimed Iran’s influence in the region has also diminished

UN chief António Guterres urged Lebanon and Israel to work together instead of deepening conflict, said ongoing tensions have long destabilised Lebanon

Guterres called the first Israel-Lebanon meeting in decades “very important”

-Said success depends on whether talks lead to real changes in actions

“Hezbollah and Israel have always helped each other to destabilize the government of Lebanon,” Guterres said

Guterres said Lebanon should not remain a “victim” of actions by Hezbollah and Israel

A White House official on Tuesday said that US President Donald Trump's administration will allow a waiver temporarily permitting the purchase of certain Iranian crude oil to expire this weekend, Bloomberg reported.

Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Tuesday said the country must assume that the energy price shock caused by the Iran war is likely to persist, leaving Berlin's economic situation extremely fragile.

On Tuesday, diplomats worked through back channels to arrange a new round of negotiation between the US and Iran after Washington imposed its blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran threatened to strike targets across the region.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that the prevailing situation in West Asia could have far-reaching implications for the region and the world.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Zardari and briefed him about all aspects of the dialogue between Iran and the US, according to a statement by the President's Secretariat.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said China had been an unreliable global partner during the Middle East war by hoarding oil supplies and limiting exports of some goods, mirroring its actions with medical goods during the Covid-19 pandemic.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as direct talks between the two opened on Tuesday despite objections from Hezbollah, which announced fresh attacks on Israel just as negotiations got underway, AFP reported.

The United Nations' trade agency on Tuesday said the fertiliser shortages due to the ongoing Iran war are a pressing concern for developing countries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Israel-Lebanon peace talks as a “process, not an event.”

Rubio downplayed expectations of any immediate or major breakthrough.

The talks are being mediated by the United States at the State Department.

Participants included the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon to the US, along with the US ambassador to Lebanon.

Rubio said the Trump administration is “very happy” to facilitate the discussions.

He called the negotiations a “historic opportunity.”

Rubio acknowledged the challenge of overcoming “decades of history and complexities.”

He indicated that progress will take time, with no quick resolution expected.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said rising energy costs due to the Iran war are a short-term economic trade-off.

He argued that “a small bit of economic pain for a few weeks” is justified to avoid the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Bessent downplayed concerns over soaring gas prices, calling the current spike “transient.”

He expressed confidence that energy prices will fall once the conflict ends.

Bessent added that easing energy costs would help bring down headline inflation.

He said gasoline prices are also expected to decline as inflation cools post-conflict.

As the two-week ceasefire deadline looms, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Iran talks could happen in the next two days in Pakistan's Islamabad, a decision that could renew hopes of ending the six-week-long conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) described the Israel-Lebanon negotiations talks as a ‘historic opportunity’.

A week after a ceasefire was announced between the US and Iran, Israeli and Lebanese delegations are now negotiating at the US State Department, to bring an end to Tel Aviv's offensive in Beirut.

The US Central Command on Tuesday said that the US blockade of Iranian ports involves over 10,000 US military personnel and more than a dozen warships and aircraft.