Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Wednesday that Israel supports the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but explicitly excluded Lebanon from the ceasefire agreement. The statement creates a significant gap in what Pakistani mediators had described as a comprehensive regional truce.
Netanyahu's office said Israel backed the US move provided Tehran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz and halts attacks against the United States, Israel and regional countries. The clarification directly contradicts Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's earlier announcement that the ceasefire applied "everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere."
The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon
Benjamin Netanyahu's office — multiple outlets
The exclusion leaves Hezbollah operations outside the diplomatic pause, maintaining Israel's military campaign against the Iran-backed group that has killed over 1,500 people and displaced more than one million Lebanese since March. Israel launched its Lebanon offensive after Hezbollah attacked Israeli cities in retaliation for Israel's killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire deal just hours before his deadline to "obliterate" Iran was set to expire. The agreement emerged from last-minute Pakistani mediation, with negotiations scheduled to begin Friday in Islamabad. Trump credited China with pushing Iran toward the negotiating table.
France 24 frames this as a diplomatic contradiction requiring clarification, emphasizing the mediation role of Pakistan and the technical details of the ceasefire terms. Their coverage focuses on the procedural aspects of international diplomacy rather than taking sides, reflecting France's traditional role as a mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Al Jazeera emphasizes the humanitarian cost in Lebanon and frames Israel's exclusion as undermining regional peace efforts. They highlight the displacement of over one million Lebanese and describe Israel's Gaza war as "genocidal," reflecting Qatar's role as a regional mediator critical of Israeli military actions.
NDTV presents the story as a diplomatic contradiction between allies, focusing on the procedural disagreement between Netanyahu and Pakistani mediators. Their framing reflects India's balanced approach to Middle Eastern conflicts, maintaining relationships with both Israel and Iran while emphasizing diplomatic solutions.
The Straits Times focuses on the strategic and economic implications, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz's role in global trade. Their coverage emphasizes the commercial stakes and regional stability concerns, reflecting Singapore's position as a major shipping hub dependent on secure maritime routes.
La Nación frames the story through the lens of US-led diplomacy and Trump's negotiating tactics, emphasizing the conditional nature of the agreement and the role of economic incentives. Their coverage reflects Argentina's distance from Middle Eastern conflicts while noting the global implications of regional stability.
La Tercera emphasizes the humanitarian consequences in Lebanon while presenting the diplomatic maneuvering as part of broader regional power dynamics. Their coverage reflects Latin American concerns about civilian casualties while maintaining analytical distance from the geopolitical competition between major powers.
Reuters frames the story through a regional stability lens, emphasizing Israel's conditional support for the ceasefire while highlighting the exclusion of Lebanon as a potential complication for broader Middle Eastern peace efforts. The coverage reflects Saudi Arabia's delicate position of wanting regional de-escalation while maintaining concerns about Iranian influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah.
Al Jazeera emphasizes Pakistan's mediating role and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, framing the ceasefire as a temporary measure that fails to address underlying regional tensions, particularly regarding Lebanon. The outlet's perspective reflects Turkey's position as a regional power that views U.S.-Israeli military coordination skeptically while supporting diplomatic solutions that don't exclude key regional actors.
Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it
Donald Trump — France 24
Iran has agreed to allow "safe" transit through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period, coordinated with Iranian forces. The strategic waterway carries approximately 20 percent of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Trump said the US would help clear traffic buildup in the strait and that "big money will be made" as Iran begins reconstruction.
The Iranian government has presented a 10-point proposal that includes lifting all sanctions, withdrawing US combat forces from regional bases, and paying full compensation to Iran. However, Iran's Supreme National Security Council warned the proposal "does not mean the end of the war."
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel supports US efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses nuclear, missile or terror threats to America, Israel and Arab neighbors. He said Washington has committed to achieving these shared goals in the upcoming negotiations.
The ceasefire announcement drew mixed regional reactions. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the pause but called for translating Iran's proposals into comprehensive peace covering Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to respect international law and ceasefire terms to enable lasting regional peace.