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Issued on: 15/04/2026 - 02:24

US President Donald Trump at the White House, April 13, 2026, in Washington. US President Donald Trump at the White House, April 13, 2026, in Washington © Brendan SMIALOWSKI, AFP

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that US-Iran peace talks could resume this week, while Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct negotiations, signaling movement on two key fronts in efforts to ease the Middle East conflict. The parallel diplomatic openings came even as violence persisted, underscoring both the fragility of the process and Washington's push to stabilise a region shaken by the over-six-week war. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.  

Yesterday's key developments:

  • Italy has suspended the renewal of its defence agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday. 
  • Lebanon's ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad called for a ceasefire during "constructive" talks on Tuesday with Israeli officials in Washington, she said in a statement.
  • No ​ships have made it past a U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports and ​coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back, the U.S. military said on Tuesday, on day one of the ​blockade ordered by US President Donald Trump after peace talks between the U.S. ⁠and Iran broke down.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)

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