Tel Aviv, April 8: Israel has moved to clarify that the current ceasefire between the United States and Iran does not extend to Lebanese territory, contradicting earlier reports of a comprehensive regional peace deal. The Office of the Prime Minister stated Wednesday that while it aligns with the American initiative to suspend strikes for two weeks, the agreement is highly specific and does not apply to the ongoing situation in Lebanon.
The truce, which is subject to Tehran halting attacks and restoring maritime access in the region, was described by Israeli officials as a conditional pause rather than a total cessation of regional conflict. The Israeli government affirmed its backing of U.S. efforts to permanently address Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, stating that Washington remains committed to these security objectives.
“Washington had assured Israel of its commitment to achieving these shared objectives through upcoming negotiations involving regional allies,” the official Israeli statement declared. The government maintained that the suspension of strikes is a measured response to specific conditions rather than a blanket regional agreement.
This clarification stands in stark contrast to declarations from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had hailed the deal as a universal ceasefire spanning Lebanon and all other fronts. Sharif had credited both Washington and Tehran for their “remarkable wisdom” and expressed hope that the upcoming “Islamabad Talks” on April 10 would solidify a sustainable peace. The discrepancy between the Israeli and Pakistani interpretations of the deal suggests that diplomatic clarity will be essential to preventing further escalation in the coming days.
