US brokers ‘historic milestone’ as Israel and Lebanon commit to direct peace talks
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States said on Tuesday, April 14, that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to launch direct negotiations aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, following a trilateral meeting described as “productive” by officials.
The development marks a significant diplomatic step amid ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The US Department of State congratulated both nations on what it called a “historic milestone,” expressing hope that the talks would go beyond the scope of the November 2024 cessation agreement and lead to a broader peace deal.
Israel-Lebanon direct talks to end Hezbollah conflict
The announcement came after a trilateral meeting involving US, Israeli, and Lebanese officials.
The US said all sides agreed to begin direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue to address the ongoing conflict involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“The United States expressed its support for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hezbollah’s continued attacks,” the statement said. It added that any agreement to cease hostilities must be negotiated directly between Israel and Lebanon, with the US acting as a broker, not through separate channels.
Israel also reiterated its position on dismantling militant groups. It expressed support for “disarming all non-state t*rror groups and dismantling all those infrastructure in Lebanon,” while committing to work with the Lebanese government to ensure security for civilians in both countries.
Lebanon pushes full ceasefire implementation amid talks
Lebanon, for its part, emphasized the need to fully implement the cessation of hostilities announced in November 2024.
The joint statement noted alignment among the parties on restarting formal engagement to stabilize the region.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Counselor Michael Needham, US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa A Johnson, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
US-Iran talks mark unprecedented diplomatic breakthrough
Separately, Vice President JD Vance described the April 11 meeting between the United States and Iran in Islamabad as “unprecedented,” highlighting a parallel diplomatic track aimed at easing broader regional tensions.
JD Vance: "The person effectively running Iran sat across from the U.S. Vice President. This had never happened before. I think those people wanted to make a deal." pic.twitter.com/1bXW5xyT1f
— World Vibe (@world_vibe_en) April 14, 2026
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia, Vance said the talks marked the first high-level engagement of their kind in 47 years.
“It is a meeting that had never before happened. Not Democrat, not Republican. We had never had a meeting like that where you have the person who’s effectively running the country in Iran, sitting across from the vice president of the United States,” he said.
The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, included around 70 members and traveled to Islamabad for discussions aimed at ending the ongoing war in Iran.
Despite longstanding tensions, Vance indicated optimism about the dialogue. “I think the people sitting across from us were wanting to make a deal,” he said, adding that President Donald Trump had instructed the delegation to pursue diplomacy sincerely.
“That’s what we did. That’s what we’re going to keep on doing,” Vance said. “I feel very good about where we are,” he added.
