Israel has endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pause strikes on Iran for two weeks, but clarified that the halt does not extend to Lebanon, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday.
The Israeli government said it supports the temporary suspension of attacks provided Tehran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz and halts strikes against the United States, Israel and other countries in the region.
Washington announced the two-week pause as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions and create space for negotiations amid escalating conflict with Iran.
Israel reiterated its backing for U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses what it described as a nuclear, missile or “terror” threat to Israel, the United States and regional allies. It added that U.S. officials had reassured Israeli leadership of their commitment to achieving shared strategic objectives during upcoming talks.
Iran confirmed that negotiations with Washington are set to begin on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad.
Earlier, two White House officials said Israel had agreed to the temporary ceasefire and would suspend its bombing campaign on Iran. However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a role in mediating the arrangement, said the deal would also include a halt to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon — a claim Israel has now rejected.
Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon has reportedly killed at least 1,500 people and displaced around 1.2 million others. The escalation followed rocket fire by Hezbollah in support of Iran, days after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian positions, triggering a broader regional confrontation.