EU Diplomat Urges Immediate Halt to Fighting in Lebanon

Middle Eastern outlets highlight Iran’s insistence that any ceasefire deal and sanctions relief must cover Lebanon, not just Gaza or Hormuz. They stress that Turkey, France and regional voices are converging on the need to fold Lebanon into the peace package to avoid a wider war and a deepening food crisis. They expect hard bargaining over sanctions and asset unfreezing before Iran accepts firm dates for talks.

• •Iran is demanding a Lebanon ceasefire and unfreezing of its assets as a two-point condition for peace talks with the United States.
• •Erdoğan and Macron have agreed that any Iran ceasefire arrangement must explicitly include Lebanon.
• •Regional commentators warn that excluding Lebanon from a deal could trigger further escalation across the Middle East.
• •The World Food Programme’s warning about Lebanon’s food security is used to argue for urgent humanitarian access and a truce.
• •Regional diplomats describe Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz as central bargaining chips in the US-Iran negotiations.