Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extended 3 Weeks at White House Talks — Trump Says ‘Don’t Rush Me’ on Iran
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Diplomacy & Conflict
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by three weeks following direct ambassador-level talks at the White House. The agreement marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough for two countries that have officially been at war since Israel’s establishment in 1948, even as Trump struck a defiant tone regarding negotiations with Iran, declaring he is in “no rush” to finalize any deal.
The Oval Office meeting, attended by Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was the second such direct diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring states in as many weeks.
Ceasefire Extension: Key Details
The initial 10-day truce, brokered by the United States on April 14, was set to expire on Sunday. Thursday’s agreement extends it through mid-May 2026, with Trump expressing hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will join him at the White House during this period.
Key Provisions of the Extended Ceasefire:
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 weeks (extension of initial 10-day agreement) |
| Right of self-defense | Israel reserves right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” |
| Lebanese security responsibility | Lebanon’s armed forces have exclusive responsibility for national security |
| Hezbollah restrictions | Lebanon must take “meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah attacks |
| US facilitation | US will continue to facilitate direct talks toward a permanent agreement |
“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump said in a social media post following the meeting.
Lebanon’s objectives for the broader negotiations extend well beyond the ceasefire extension. President Joseph Aoun has instructed Ambassador Hamadeh to seek a “full” halt to Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of the Lebanese army along the border, and the beginning of reconstruction efforts for war-damaged areas.
Israel’s position remains focused on Hezbollah’s disarmament. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Israel has “no serious disagreements” with Lebanon itself, calling Hezbollah “the obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries”.
Violence Continues Despite Truce
The fragility of the ceasefire was underscored by ongoing violence. Just as the ambassadors were meeting with Trump, Hezbollah announced it had fired rockets at northern Israel “in response to the Israeli enemy’s violation of the ceasefire,” according to the group’s statement. The launches were intercepted, according to Israeli officials.
On Wednesday — one day before the talks — Israeli strikes killed at least five people in Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle near Nabatieh, approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the border with Israel, on Thursday.
Under the truce terms, Israel reserves the right to act against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” and Israeli troops maintain a presence in southern Lebanese villages as part of a 10-kilometer (6-mile) deep “security zone”.
The human toll has been devastating. Since the conflict escalated on March 2 — following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — over 2,450 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.
Trump’s ‘Don’t Rush Me’ Stance on Iran
While celebrating progress on the Lebanon-Israel front, Trump struck a markedly different tone regarding negotiations with Iran. During an Oval Office exchange with reporters, the president emphatically rejected suggestions that he is under pressure to finalize a deal with Tehran.
“Don’t rush me,” Trump said, adding: “I don’t want to rush myself. I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now”.
Trump’s Iran Position at a Glance:
| Position | Detail |
|---|---|
| Negotiating timeline | No deadline; “don’t rush me” |
| Nuclear weapons | Will not use against Iran; opposes any nuclear use |
| Strait of Hormuz | Remains closed; Iran would earn “$500 million a day” if opened |
| Military assessment | Claims 75-78% of targets hit |
| Iran’s leadership | “In turmoil,” “fighting like cats and dogs” |
Trump asserted that the United States has already done the bulk of the military work. “I took the country out militarily in the first four weeks… Now all we’re doing is sitting back and seeing what deal,” he said. “If they don’t want to make a deal, then I’ll finish it up militarily”.
When a reporter asked whether he would consider using a nuclear weapon against Iran, Trump reacted sharply. “No, I wouldn’t. We don’t need it. Why would a stupid question like that be asked?” He added, “A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody”.
Regarding the strategic waterway, Trump said: “We have total control of the Strait. It will open when a deal is made.” He explained his reasoning for keeping it closed: “If we open the strait, that means they’re going to make $500 million a day. I don’t want them to make $500 million a day until they settle this thing. So I’m the one that kept it closed”.
The president claimed that Iran’s leadership is fractured and struggling to agree on a common position. “They’re fighting like cats and dogs over who’s going to control,” Trump said, using the phrase to argue that U.S. military and strategic pressure had weakened Tehran internally.
Parallel Tracks: Lebanon and Iran
The divergent outcomes on the two diplomatic tracks reflect their different dynamics. The Lebanon-Israel negotiations are proceeding at the government-to-government level, with both sides having clear national interests in reducing hostilities, despite Hezbollah’s rejection of the process.
Iran, by contrast, remains locked in a standoff with Washington. Tehran has refused to send a delegation for a second round of peace talks in Islamabad, demanding that the United States first lift its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The US has refused that condition, creating a “chicken-or-egg” stalemate.
Iran had previously demanded a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon as a condition for resuming talks with Washington on a permanent end to the weeks-long war. While the Lebanon ceasefire has been extended, that condition has not yet brought Iran back to the table with the US.
Trump’s message to Tehran is clear: the United States will wait until the terms are right — and not a moment before. “A deal will only be made when it’s appropriate and good for the United States of America, our Allies and, in fact, the rest of the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Looking Ahead: Potential Historic Summit
The three-week extension provides a critical window for diplomacy on the Lebanon-Israel front. Trump has indicated he expects to host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun at the White House “in the near future,” with a visit “most likely” occurring during the three-week ceasefire period.
Preparations are already underway for wider-reaching negotiations. According to Aoun’s office, the aim of future talks is to “fully” stop Israeli attacks, secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, negotiate the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deploy Lebanese troops along the border, and begin the reconstruction process.
| Next Steps | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Ceasefire extension in effect | Immediate |
| Netanyahu-Aoun White House visit | Within three weeks |
| Permanent peace negotiations | Ongoing |
| Hezbollah disarmament discussions | Pending |
Israeli Ambassador Leiter expressed optimism about the path ahead: “We hope that together, under your leadership, we can formalize peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future”.
Lebanese Ambassador Hamadeh, referencing Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, responded: “I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again”.
Trump told reporters, while surrounded by the ambassadors, that Israel has a right to defend itself “if they’re shot at, and they will”.
For now, the guns have fallen silent — at least temporarily — on the Lebanese front. But with Hezbollah rejecting the process and Iran refusing to engage directly, the path to a comprehensive regional peace remains uncertain. The coming weeks will test whether the diplomatic optimism in Washington can survive the realities on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long is the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended?
The ceasefire has been extended by three weeks, building on the initial 10-day truce that took effect on April 16, 2026.
2. Who attended the White House meeting?
President Trump hosted the meeting in the Oval Office, attended by Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
3. What does Lebanon want from the negotiations?
Lebanon is seeking a full halt to Israeli attacks, withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied areas, release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese army troops along the border, and reconstruction assistance.
4. What does Israel want from the negotiations?
Israel’s primary objective remains the complete disarmament of Hezbollah and the removal of its military infrastructure from southern Lebanon.
5. Is Hezbollah part of the ceasefire agreement?
No. Hezbollah has rejected the negotiations and is not a party to the agreement. The Lebanese government is representing Lebanon, deliberately excluding Hezbollah from the process. Hezbollah has continued attacks despite the truce.
6. What is Trump’s position on negotiating with Iran?
Trump has stated he is in “no rush” to make a deal, refuses to set a deadline, and insists any agreement must be on U.S. terms. He has also ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran.
7. Will Netanyahu and Aoun meet at the White House?
Trump expects to host both leaders “in the near future,” with a visit “most likely” occurring during the three-week ceasefire period.
8. How many people have been killed in the Lebanon war?
Over 2,450 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million displaced since the conflict escalated on March 2, 2026.
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