Lebanon-Israel 10-Day Ceasefire Takes Effect, Trump Says US-Iran Talks Possible This Weekend
A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has taken effect, and US President Trump indicated that talks between the US and Iran might occur this weekend. This development has raised optimism that the Iran war could be nearing its end. Trump stated that Iran has proposed not possessing nuclear weapons for over 20 years, and a deal could significantly lower oil prices and ease inflation.
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- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 11:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 17, 2026 at 12:01 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 17:05 (5h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington 16th, comprehensive foreign report) A 10-day ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel took effect today. US President Trump stated that the next meeting between the United States and Iran might take place this weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war may be nearing its end.
Reuters reported that Trump stated that Iran has proposed not possessing nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran's ambition to develop nuclear weapons was the sticking point that led to the stalemate in the Islamabad talks last weekend.
Trump told reporters outside the White House: "We'll see how things develop. But I think we're very close to a deal with Iran."
Hours later, Trump further stated at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, that the Iran war "should end very soon."
On February 28, the US and Israel jointly launched an attack that triggered the Iran war, which has so far caused thousands of deaths and soaring oil prices, bringing significant political pressure on Trump.
If the Lebanon ceasefire can pave the way for a broader peace agreement with Iran, it would be a major victory for the Trump administration. So far, the Trump administration has struggled to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
At midnight today, as the ceasefire agreement took effect, celebratory gunfire was heard in parts of Beirut. Witnesses said that within about half an hour, explosions from celebratory rocket launches could also be heard.
However, this temporary cessation of hostilities still appears fragile.
The Lebanese army stated early this morning that Israel still violated the ceasefire agreement, including intermittent shelling of several villages in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on this. The Israeli military had earlier stated that troops were still deployed in that area. Avichay Adraee, the Arabic spokesperson for the Israeli military, posted on social media platform X that this deployment was in response to what he called the continuous military activities of Hezbollah militants.
Hezbollah issued a lengthy statement detailing its military operations against Israel today, showing that the last attack occurred at 11:50 PM local time the night before, which was 10 minutes before the ceasefire took effect.
Trump later posted on social media, urging Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire agreement. He said: "I hope Hezbollah behaves well during this important period. If they can do this, it will be a big moment for them. No more killing. Peace must eventually be achieved!"
Trump had earlier told reporters that he believed the US had a chance to reach a deal with Iran. He said: "If a deal is reached, oil prices will drop significantly, prices will come down, inflation will cool down significantly, and... more importantly, there will be no nuclear catastrophe."
Trump said he was not sure if the ceasefire agreement reached with Iran last week would extend beyond next week, adding that Tehran wanted a deal.
He said: "Incredibly, we have a very good relationship with Iran right now. I think this is the result of about four weeks of bombing and a very strong blockade working together." (Compiler: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150417
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(Central News Agency, Washington 16th, comprehensive foreign report) A 10-day ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel took effect today. US President Trump stated that the next meeting between the United States and Iran might take place this weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war may be nearing its end.
Reuters reported that Trump stated that Iran has proposed not possessing nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran's ambition to develop nuclear weapons was the sticking point that led to the stalemate in the Islamabad talks last weekend.
Trump told reporters outside the White House: "We'll see how things develop. But I think we're very close to a deal with Iran."
Hours later, Trump further stated at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, that the Iran war "should end very soon."
On February 28, the US and Israel jointly launched an attack that triggered the Iran war, which has so far caused thousands of deaths and soaring oil prices, bringing significant political pressure on Trump.
If the Lebanon ceasefire can pave the way for a broader peace agreement with Iran, it would be a major victory for the Trump administration. So far, the Trump administration has struggled to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
At midnight today, as the ceasefire agreement took effect, celebratory gunfire was heard in parts of Beirut. Witnesses said that within about half an hour, explosions from celebratory rocket launches could also be heard.
However, this temporary cessation of hostilities still appears fragile.
The Lebanese army stated early this morning that Israel still violated the ceasefire agreement, including intermittent shelling of several villages in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on this. The Israeli military had earlier stated that troops were still deployed in that area. Avichay Adraee, the Arabic spokesperson for the Israeli military, posted on social media platform X that this deployment was in response to what he called the continuous military activities of Hezbollah militants.
Hezbollah issued a lengthy statement detailing its military operations against Israel today, showing that the last attack occurred at 11:50 PM local time the night before, which was 10 minutes before the ceasefire took effect.
Trump later posted on social media, urging Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire agreement. He said: "I hope Hezbollah behaves well during this important period. If they can do this, it will be a big moment for them. No more killing. Peace must eventually be achieved!"
Trump had earlier told reporters that he believed the US had a chance to reach a deal with Iran. He said: "If a deal is reached, oil prices will drop significantly, prices will come down, inflation will cool down significantly, and... more importantly, there will be no nuclear catastrophe."
Trump said he was not sure if the ceasefire agreement reached with Iran last week would extend beyond next week, adding that Tehran wanted a deal.
He said: "Incredibly, we have a very good relationship with Iran right now. I think this is the result of about four weeks of bombing and a very strong blockade working together." (Compiler: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150417
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
FAQ
What is the duration of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel?
The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is for a period of 10 days.
What did President Trump say about relations with Iran?
President Trump stated that Iran has proposed not possessing nuclear weapons for over 20 years and indicated that talks between the US and Iran might occur this weekend, emphasizing that a deal could significantly lower oil prices and ease inflation.