Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military had standing orders to act against any threats encountered in Lebanon and reiterated that Israeli forces would not withdraw from the security zone extending roughly 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.

“There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats,” Katz said in a statement, adding that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made clear that Israel would maintain its presence in the area.

The comments underscored continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier despite diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Tehran to halt hostilities across multiple fronts in the region.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, said later on Sunday that implementation of provisions related to ending the conflict in Lebanon was a prerequisite for advancing negotiations with the United States on a final agreement following a deal reached earlier this week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran could not move into the next phase of negotiations unless commitments regarding a cessation of hostilities were fulfilled. In a post on X, he said the termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, remained essential to further diplomatic progress.

Baghaei also said the situation in Lebanon would dominate discussions with U.S. officials in Switzerland, alongside issues including frozen Iranian assets and Iranian oil exports.

“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, and this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” Baghaei said in remarks carried by the IRNA state news agency.

Tehran announced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Washington aimed at ending months of hostilities that began on Feb. 28 following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Under the arrangement, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon was also expected to cease.

Iran’s military said on Saturday it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it described as ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, adding another layer of uncertainty to regional security and energy markets.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, there were no reports of new strikes in Lebanon after Saturday evening. Baghaei said a “fragile cessation” of hostilities had been in place since Saturday.

The latest exchanges highlight the central role of the Lebanon conflict in wider regional diplomacy, as efforts continue to stabilize tensions following months of military confrontation involving Israel, Hezbollah, Iran and the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Naqvi’s visit forms part of Pakistan’s continuing engagement on issues related to the dialogue between Tehran and Washington, the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported.

The meeting comes amid heightened regional diplomatic activity as governments across the Middle East seek to support channels of communication between Iran and the United States following months of tensions and negotiations over key security and political issues.

Neither Iranian nor Pakistani officials immediately disclosed the detailed agenda for the talks. However, Baghaei indicated that the visit is connected to Islamabad’s efforts surrounding the ongoing discussions involving Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan has maintained relations with both Iran and the United States and has periodically sought to facilitate diplomatic engagement during periods of regional uncertainty. The country shares a lengthy border with Iran and has frequently emphasized dialogue and regional stability as central elements of its foreign policy.

The planned discussions between Naqvi and Araqchi follow previous high-level contacts between officials from the two neighboring countries and underscore continued coordination on regional developments.

No further details were immediately available regarding the duration of Naqvi’s visit or whether additional meetings with Iranian officials were scheduled.

The operation, announced by the U.S. military, targeted what officials described as immediate threats to American personnel and maritime security. The strikes occurred while senior Iranian negotiators, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials, were in Doha for talks with Qatari mediators seeking a framework agreement to halt hostilities.

The latest military action underscored the delicate balance between diplomacy and confrontation as Washington and Tehran attempt to negotiate an end to a conflict that has centered on Iran’s nuclear program and the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command said the attacks were defensive measures intended to protect American forces from threats posed by Iranian military assets.

“U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a military spokesperson.

Earlier in India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained committed to diplomacy and believed a negotiated settlement remained achievable.

Rubio said discussions were focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching a structured, time-limited negotiation over Iran’s nuclear activities. He indicated the United States would continue to pursue diplomatic options before considering alternative measures.

President Donald Trump echoed that message in a social media post, describing negotiations as progressing positively while warning that further military action could follow if talks failed to produce results.

At the center of the negotiations is the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments typically pass. Since the conflict began in late February, commercial traffic through the waterway has fallen sharply as Iran imposed restrictions and security concerns mounted.

A source familiar with the Doha discussions said negotiators were focusing on two key issues: restoring unrestricted navigation through the strait and addressing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iranian financial officials were also participating in discussions involving the possible release of frozen Iranian assets as part of a broader settlement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said detailed nuclear negotiations would only begin after a broader framework agreement had been reached.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons. Washington, meanwhile, insists that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of any agreement.

In a separate development, Iranian state media reported that the country had used a newly deployed air-defense system to shoot down what officials described as a hostile stealth drone operating near the Arabian Gulf. Iranian authorities did not specify the drone’s origin.

Regional tensions were further heightened by developments in neighboring Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would intensify military operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement despite a ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year. The Israeli military later reported strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley and other areas.

Diplomatic efforts have also become intertwined with broader regional initiatives. Trump used his latest public comments to urge additional Arab and Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered framework that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries during his first term.

The proposal drew skepticism from regional observers and diplomats, some of whom argued that negotiations over Iran and broader normalization efforts should remain separate tracks.

Analysts said the administration appeared to be attempting to frame a prospective Iran agreement as part of a larger regional security architecture that could benefit Israel, Gulf states and the United States simultaneously.

Despite ongoing military exchanges, markets reacted positively to signs that diplomacy was continuing. Oil prices fell more than 4 percent on Monday, reaching their lowest levels in two weeks amid expectations that a breakthrough could restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and ease pressure on global energy supplies.

Iranian officials said 32 commercial vessels and five oil tankers transited the strait during the previous 24 hours under authorization from Iran’s naval forces, a fraction of the volume typically seen before the conflict began.

Negotiators in Doha are expected to continue discussions in the coming days as both sides seek agreement on the terms of a ceasefire, maritime security arrangements and a framework for addressing longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear activities.

The discussions in Tehran came as Iran said it was reviewing Washington’s latest position on ending the conflict that erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and has remained paused under a fragile ceasefire since April 8.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian and Naqvi reviewed “the latest regional developments and the diplomatic consultations related to the Iran-U.S. talks,” while emphasizing continued political coordination and regional cooperation.

Naqvi conveyed the “messages and views” of Pakistani officials regarding ongoing negotiations and the importance of maintaining dialogue, IRNA reported.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary since the conflict began, hosting rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials last month as Islamabad intensified diplomatic outreach aimed at preventing renewed escalation in the Gulf region.

Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s efforts to support regional stability and stressed the importance of continued coordination between Tehran and Islamabad, according to Iranian media.
The war, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Although direct fighting halted under the ceasefire agreement, negotiations have shown limited progress in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said military action remained an option if Tehran failed to respond positively to U.S. proposals.

“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
Asked how long Washington would wait, Trump replied: “It could be a few days, but it could go very quickly.”

Trump also reiterated that the United States would not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“We’re in the final stages of Iran,” Trump said earlier. “Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty.”

Iran said it was examining Washington’s latest views after submitting a new proposal this week. Iranian officials indicated the offer included demands previously rejected by Trump, including sanctions relief, compensation for war-related damage, release of frozen assets and changes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have received U.S. views and are reviewing them,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying by Nour News.

The uncertainty surrounding negotiations has contributed to volatility in global energy markets and increased political pressure on Trump ahead of U.S. midterm elections later this year amid rising fuel prices.