Trump Presses Iran for Talks Again: "Call Me Directly"

U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Iran to call the United States directly if it wants to negotiate. This statement, made after the second face-to-face talks between the U.S. and Iran fell through last weekend, is interpreted as an attempt by the U.S. to clearly signal its lack of urgency for negotiations and pressure Iran. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump stated that there was no need for the Iranian delegation to travel for 18 hours, emphasizing that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons and that there would be no reason to meet if they did. The U.S. had planned to send a delegation to Pakistan on the 25th, but postponed the dispatch due to a lack of clear signals for negotiation from the Iranian side.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi visited Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on the 25th and then departed for Oman. However, he returned to Pakistan on the 26th, one day later, to meet with officials. It is reported that agenda items such as the implementation of a new legal regime for the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of maritime blockades against Iran were presented as conditions for the previous negotiations. An Iranian official stated that these conditions are currently focused on ending recent military conflicts and are entirely unrelated to the nuclear issue. After concluding his schedule in Pakistan, Minister Araghchi is scheduled to head to Moscow, Russia, his final destination.

Meanwhile, clashes continue along the Israeli-Lebanese border despite a ceasefire agreement. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon has rendered the ceasefire effectively meaningless. On the 26th local time, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, among other areas, using fighter jets. Lebanese state media reported that at least one person was killed and three were injured by Israeli airstrikes during the ceasefire. In response, Hezbollah also reportedly carried out a suicide drone attack targeting Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon on the same day, resulting in one Israeli soldier killed and six injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of strong military action, stating that Hezbollah's actions threaten the ceasefire agreement. Israel asserted its right to respond to threats from Hezbollah even during the ceasefire period, warning that it could preemptively neutralize potential threats. The Hezbollah side justified its actions as a response to Israel's violation of the ceasefire from the very first day it was announced.