LIVE War in the Middle East: JD Vance arrived in Pakistan for crucial negotiations between the United States and Iran…

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said this Saturday that he hoped that Iran and the United States “participate constructively” in the peace talks. The minister also “reiterated Pakistan’s desire to help the parties achieve a lasting solution to the conflict,” according to a statement released shortly after the arrival of the American delegation.

American Vice President JD Vance arrived this Saturday in Pakistan, where negotiations are to be held between the United States and Iran to end the war in the Middle East. The leader of the American delegation was greeted by the powerful head of the Pakistani army Asim Munir upon his arrival at the Nur Khan air base, near Islamabad.

Israel has indicated that it does not plan to raise the issue of a ceasefire with Hezbollah during upcoming talks with Lebanon, scheduled to take place in Washington. During a preparatory exchange with his Lebanese counterpart, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter clearly refused any discussion in this direction, describing Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization”.

Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran had only limited leverage in the ongoing negotiations, mainly pointing to control of the Strait of Hormuz. In a message published on Truth Social, he accuses Tehran of banking on short-term pressure by disrupting international maritime routes. “The Iranians don’t seem to understand that they don’t have any cards in their hands except temporary extortion from the rest of the world via sea lanes,” he said.

According to him, this strategy represents their only way to influence diplomatic discussions. “The only reason they are still alive today is to negotiate,” he added, on the eve of expected peace talks in Pakistan.

Faced with the energy crisis linked to the conflict in the Middle East, Sébastien Lecornu intends to accelerate electrification to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, with a target of 40% by 2030. Funding will be doubled to 10 billion euros per year, without additional budget, via a reorientation of existing aid.

Among the measures: end of gas boilers in new buildings from 2026, development of heat pumps, extension of electric car leasing and aid to businesses. A more comprehensive plan must be presented soon.

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The Israeli army indicated Friday evening that it had carried out a series of coordinated strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, described as of exceptional scale. According to her, these operations would have targeted positions of Hezbollah, a movement supported by Tehran.

In a press release, she affirmed that “according to an initial assessment by the army’s intelligence services, more than 180 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated”, while specifying that this assessment remains provisional.

An Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday evening, in Pakistan, for discussions related to a peace process with the United States, according to Iranian state television announced on Friday.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also part of the trip. Tehran specified that the holding of negotiations remained conditional on Washington’s acceptance of certain “preconditions”, in particular the establishment of a truce in Lebanon as well as the unblocking of its assets.

Hello everyone. Like every day, the editorial staff of 20 Minutes is mobilized to give you all the information on the situation in the Middle East.

This Saturday promises to be a major diplomatic day with the expected meeting between the United States and Iran in Pakistan. These exchanges could mark an attempt to resume dialogue between two opposing powers on several sensitive issues, notably security in the Middle East, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear issues.