US-Iran war live updates: Israel to hold talks with Lebanon, says Netanyahu, as death toll from strikes passes 300; Strait of Hormuz remains closed as ceasefire holds

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” in response to repeated requests, focused on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Negotiations are expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington.
• European leaders have insisted Lebanon be included in the two-week ceasefire between the US-Israel and Iran, after Israel launched record strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing hundreds.
• Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said “ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses”.
• US Vice President JD Vance will lead a US delegation to peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jets to Singapore today to further bolster the nation’s fuel supplies. Fuel stocks have been guaranteed almost to June.

Iran’s parliament speaker has warned that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would bring “explicit costs and STRONG responses.”

Like other Iranian officials, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf insisted that the two-week ceasefire extended to Lebanon, something denied by both Israel and the US.

“Ceasefire violations carry explicit and STRONG responses,” he wrote on X. “Extinguish the fire immediately.”

Ghalibaf has been discussed as a possible negotiator who could meet US Vice President JD Vance this weekend for talks in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the BBC the strikes were a “grave violation” of the ceasefire deal.

with AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”.

Netanyahu said on Thursday (Israel time) he gave the order in response to requests from Lebanon and that talks would focus on disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the neighbouring countries.

He welcomed a call by Lebanon’s prime minister to demilitarise Beirut.

There was no immediate response from Lebanese authorities. But Israel-Lebanon negotiations were expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a person familiar with the plans.

AP, Reuters

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible” in response to repeated requests, focused on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Negotiations are expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington.
• European leaders have insisted Lebanon be included in the two-week ceasefire between the US-Israel and Iran, after Israel launched record strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing hundreds.
• Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said “ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses”.
• US Vice President JD Vance will lead a US delegation to peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Saturday.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese jets to Singapore today to further bolster the nation’s fuel supplies. Fuel stocks have been guaranteed almost to June.