Trump Urges Israel to Reduce Intensity in Lebanon to Avoid Affecting US-Iran Talks
President Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to reduce the intensity of military operations in Lebanon to avoid jeopardizing US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. While Israel has agreed to direct talks with Lebanon, differences in objectives persist between the two sides.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 13:05
- 🔍 Collected: April 10, 2026 at 14:00 (55 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 09:43 (235h 42m after Collected)
The New York Times points out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still believes the Iranian regime should be overthrown and is unwilling to ease military and economic pressure on Tehran. However, Trump appears eager to end the war, which has caused oil prices to soar, unsettled his supporters, and threatened his political standing.
Trump told NBC News today that he had spoken to Netanyahu on the 8th, asking him not to jeopardize his diplomatic efforts. "I spoke with him, and he's going to be a little more low-key," Trump said.
The Times believes that as Trump seeks to negotiate with Iran, the divergence in goals between the US and Israel may further widen. Iran's medium-range missiles and its support for regional proxies pose a far greater threat to the US than to Israel.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on the 7th, and Israel immediately intensified its offensive in Lebanon on the 8th, launching approximately 100 airstrikes. The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that the series of attacks destroyed residential buildings and occurred in areas that were largely unaffected by the war, within Hezbollah's traditional sphere of influence, resulting in over 300 deaths.
After Trump's call to Netanyahu conveying a strong message, Israel announced today that it would begin direct negotiations with Lebanon. US officials revealed that this call was shorter than their usual conversations.
Prior to this, the Trump administration had not asked Israel to reduce its military actions against Hezbollah. US officials indicated that Trump is concerned that the conflict in Lebanon could undermine US efforts to achieve a ceasefire with Iran and resume efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Pakistan, which is mediating between the US and Iran, have complained that Israel's war in Lebanon violates the ceasefire.
US officials revealed that Trump told Netanyahu he understood Israel's necessity to defend against Hezbollah militants, but also emphasized the need to reduce the intensity of attacks in Lebanon to avoid breaking the ceasefire with Iran.
Israel has intensified its operations in Lebanon in recent days, intending to control the strategic area of the Litani River, about 32 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border. Israel has always sought to push Hezbollah's influence north of the Litani River.
US officials stated that Trump and his top aides are worried about the escalating situation before the negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 11th, fearing that Tehran might use the Israeli-Lebanese conflict as leverage to demand more concessions from the US, or even withdraw from the talks. This prompted Trump to decide to pressure Netanyahu.
Arab officials stated that direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese government officials are tentatively scheduled for next week, with the US expected to mediate. Initial discussions will focus on preparatory work to pave the way for more formal ceasefire negotiations.
Currently, there are significant differences in the positions of the US and Iran for the talks on the 11th, and their statements on whether a final agreement to end the war can be reached also vary. Trump expressed hope for reaching an agreement, but Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, conveyed a firm stance in a letter today, stating that claims will be made against this war and formal control of the Strait of Hormuz will be obtained.
However, analysts at a forum at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington said today that both the US and Iran still have room and motivation to keep the negotiations from breaking down.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at MEI specializing in Iranian issues, said, "From Tehran's perspective, I feel they are still willing to negotiate overall, even the hardliners." Barbara Leaf, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs at the same institute, said, "Time is not on America's side, and I think the President is gradually realizing that."
The Washington Post quoted the White House as saying that US Vice President JD Vance, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad to participate in the negotiations with Iran starting on the 11th. The Post anticipates that the talks will focus on the future of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Before the US and Israel went to war with Iran on February 28th, Witkoff stated that Trump had instructed him to reach an agreement that "allows for no enrichment whatsoever and hands over all enriched materials." Before negotiations broke down, Iran had proposed potentially diluting its 60% enriched uranium for civilian research purposes.
The Financial Times, citing five people familiar with Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran, reported that Trump is worried about soaring oil prices and the resilience of the Iranian regime, and has been eager to broker a ceasefire since at least March 21st, when he first threatened to "destroy" Iran's power plants.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other political leaders in Tehran had agreed in principle to a ceasefire with the condition of opening the Strait of Hormuz a few days ago. However, two sources revealed that these elected government officials have not yet secured the full approval of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most influential entity within Iran.
Sources indicated that there are divisions within the IRGC, with some factions strongly opposing an end to the war, relaxation of control over the strait, and a return to the negotiating table. As late as the 7th, drones were still used to attack Jubail, a key petrochemical hub in Saudi Arabia. This move displeased Pakistan, which informed Iran that such actions could undermine peace efforts and lead to isolation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed in a phone call with the Pakistani Prime Minister on the afternoon of the 8th that Iran would send representatives to Islamabad for negotiations. A Pakistani diplomat revealed that Iran is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, and a "senior official from the Revolutionary Guard."
According to another source, China, along with Pakistan, jointly proposed a five-point plan last week urging Iran to negotiate and open the Strait of Hormuz. The five points include an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy as the only means of conflict resolution, and an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and non-military targets.
However, Pakistani officials are concerned about "spoilers" in the US-Iran negotiations, such as certain IRGC factions potentially attacking Persian Gulf facilities and disrupting the ceasefire. Axios reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated he has instructed his cabinet to expedite negotiations with Lebanon.
Trump told NBC News today that he had spoken to Netanyahu on the 8th, asking him not to jeopardize his diplomatic efforts. "I spoke with him, and he's going to be a little more low-key," Trump said.
The Times believes that as Trump seeks to negotiate with Iran, the divergence in goals between the US and Israel may further widen. Iran's medium-range missiles and its support for regional proxies pose a far greater threat to the US than to Israel.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on the 7th, and Israel immediately intensified its offensive in Lebanon on the 8th, launching approximately 100 airstrikes. The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that the series of attacks destroyed residential buildings and occurred in areas that were largely unaffected by the war, within Hezbollah's traditional sphere of influence, resulting in over 300 deaths.
After Trump's call to Netanyahu conveying a strong message, Israel announced today that it would begin direct negotiations with Lebanon. US officials revealed that this call was shorter than their usual conversations.
Prior to this, the Trump administration had not asked Israel to reduce its military actions against Hezbollah. US officials indicated that Trump is concerned that the conflict in Lebanon could undermine US efforts to achieve a ceasefire with Iran and resume efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Pakistan, which is mediating between the US and Iran, have complained that Israel's war in Lebanon violates the ceasefire.
US officials revealed that Trump told Netanyahu he understood Israel's necessity to defend against Hezbollah militants, but also emphasized the need to reduce the intensity of attacks in Lebanon to avoid breaking the ceasefire with Iran.
Israel has intensified its operations in Lebanon in recent days, intending to control the strategic area of the Litani River, about 32 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border. Israel has always sought to push Hezbollah's influence north of the Litani River.
US officials stated that Trump and his top aides are worried about the escalating situation before the negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 11th, fearing that Tehran might use the Israeli-Lebanese conflict as leverage to demand more concessions from the US, or even withdraw from the talks. This prompted Trump to decide to pressure Netanyahu.
Arab officials stated that direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese government officials are tentatively scheduled for next week, with the US expected to mediate. Initial discussions will focus on preparatory work to pave the way for more formal ceasefire negotiations.
Currently, there are significant differences in the positions of the US and Iran for the talks on the 11th, and their statements on whether a final agreement to end the war can be reached also vary. Trump expressed hope for reaching an agreement, but Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, conveyed a firm stance in a letter today, stating that claims will be made against this war and formal control of the Strait of Hormuz will be obtained.
However, analysts at a forum at the Middle East Institute (MEI) in Washington said today that both the US and Iran still have room and motivation to keep the negotiations from breaking down.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at MEI specializing in Iranian issues, said, "From Tehran's perspective, I feel they are still willing to negotiate overall, even the hardliners." Barbara Leaf, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs at the same institute, said, "Time is not on America's side, and I think the President is gradually realizing that."
The Washington Post quoted the White House as saying that US Vice President JD Vance, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad to participate in the negotiations with Iran starting on the 11th. The Post anticipates that the talks will focus on the future of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Before the US and Israel went to war with Iran on February 28th, Witkoff stated that Trump had instructed him to reach an agreement that "allows for no enrichment whatsoever and hands over all enriched materials." Before negotiations broke down, Iran had proposed potentially diluting its 60% enriched uranium for civilian research purposes.
The Financial Times, citing five people familiar with Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran, reported that Trump is worried about soaring oil prices and the resilience of the Iranian regime, and has been eager to broker a ceasefire since at least March 21st, when he first threatened to "destroy" Iran's power plants.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other political leaders in Tehran had agreed in principle to a ceasefire with the condition of opening the Strait of Hormuz a few days ago. However, two sources revealed that these elected government officials have not yet secured the full approval of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most influential entity within Iran.
Sources indicated that there are divisions within the IRGC, with some factions strongly opposing an end to the war, relaxation of control over the strait, and a return to the negotiating table. As late as the 7th, drones were still used to attack Jubail, a key petrochemical hub in Saudi Arabia. This move displeased Pakistan, which informed Iran that such actions could undermine peace efforts and lead to isolation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed in a phone call with the Pakistani Prime Minister on the afternoon of the 8th that Iran would send representatives to Islamabad for negotiations. A Pakistani diplomat revealed that Iran is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, and a "senior official from the Revolutionary Guard."
According to another source, China, along with Pakistan, jointly proposed a five-point plan last week urging Iran to negotiate and open the Strait of Hormuz. The five points include an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy as the only means of conflict resolution, and an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and non-military targets.
However, Pakistani officials are concerned about "spoilers" in the US-Iran negotiations, such as certain IRGC factions potentially attacking Persian Gulf facilities and disrupting the ceasefire. Axios reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated he has instructed his cabinet to expedite negotiations with Lebanon.