Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Washington, D.C., for their first direct diplomatic discussions in more than three decades. U.S. Secretary Rubio took part, framing the talks as about more than a ceasefire — aiming also at a longer-term effort to weaken Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon. He warned, however, that such a shift could not be achieved in a single day.
The meeting’s main tangible result was procedural: both sides agreed to begin direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue. Beyond that, there were few concrete commitments. Israel did not pledge to halt operations in southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese government made no public promise to take new steps against Hezbollah. That leaves open whether the diplomatic opening will change events on the ground in the near term.
Still, the talks were notable for their optics. Officials described it as a rare achievement that representatives of states technically at war since 1948 engaged directly — something not seen substantively since the early 1990s. Even if the immediate outcome was limited, the opening creates a channel that could be built on.
Separately, Pakistan has been pushing to revive U.S.–Iran talks. A two-week pause between those sides is set to expire soon, and there’s no firm confirmation yet that negotiations will resume or at what level. The last round involved technical experts from State, the White House and the Pentagon; officials say engagement has continued behind the scenes. One public hint of momentum came when the president suggested talks could resume in the coming days, crediting Pakistan’s field marshal with facilitating contact.