JUST IN: Pakistan Prime Minister’s Aide Says Lebanon Is Included in US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Diplomacy & Conflict
In a definitive statement that cuts through the diplomatic confusion surrounding the scope of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire, a senior aide to Pakistan’s Prime Minister has reaffirmed that Lebanon is unequivocally included in the agreement. The assertion, which aligns with Pakistan’s consistent position as the mediator of the truce, directly contradicts public statements from both the United States and Israel, who have insisted that the cessation of hostilities applies only to direct US-Iran military exchanges.
The statement comes amid the deadliest Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the conflict began, with Lebanese health authorities reporting over 300 killed and more than 1,150 wounded in a single 24-hour period . The attacks, launched hours after the ceasefire was announced on April 7, have plunged the diplomatic process into crisis and prompted Iran to threaten withdrawal from the broader truce .
Pakistan’s Ambassador to US: ‘The Understanding Could Not Have Been More Authentic’
The most forceful articulation of Pakistan’s position came from Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, in an interview with CNN. Sheikh was unequivocal in his defense of the original agreement’s terms.
“The description and understanding have come from the highest level in Pakistan, so it could not have been more authentic in terms of the offer made by the Prime Minister and accepted by the two conflicting parties of affording a ceasefire for two weeks.” — Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States
The ambassador’s remarks directly addressed the growing gap between Pakistan’s mediation and the US-Israeli interpretation. He acknowledged that the situation remains fragile, noting that “this is a situation of a ceasefire that could be disrupted and there have been instances in the past where ceasefires have been disrupted” .
Sheikh’s statement reinforces what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on the day the ceasefire took effect: that Iran and the United States, “along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY” .
The Original Announcement: Sharif’s Explicit Inclusion of Lebanon
The basis for the aide’s statement—and for Iran’s insistence that Lebanon is covered by the truce—lies in Prime Minister Sharif’s original April 7 announcement on X (formerly Twitter). Sharif wrote:
“With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.” — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Sharif also invited both sides to send delegations to Islamabad on April 10 for negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement . The talks remain scheduled, though Iran has threatened to boycott unless the US enforces a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanon .
The prime minister’s announcement followed nearly two weeks of sustained, largely unseen backchannel diplomacy. According to a detailed account published by Dawn, Pakistan’s most authoritative English-language newspaper, the mediation effort involved “calls that stretch for hours, in proposals dismissed publicly but refined privately, in capitals that deny mediation even as they pass messages” .
The Dispute: What Was Actually Agreed?
Despite Pakistan’s clear and repeated statements, the United States and Israel have offered a dramatically different interpretation of the ceasefire’s scope.
US Position: Lebanon Excluded, ‘Separate Skirmish’
President Trump has been explicit in his rejection of Lebanon’s inclusion. In an interview with PBS following the ceasefire announcement, Trump stated that Lebanon was “not included” in the agreement and described the war there as “a separate skirmish” .
Vice President JD Vance, who is scheduled to lead the US delegation to the Islamabad talks, has reinforced this position. Speaking to reporters in Budapest, Vance said: “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t” .
When asked about reports that Iran might condition its participation in the Islamabad talks on a halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Vance dismissed the concern. “If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice. We think that’s dumb, but it’s their choice” .
Israel’s Position: Hezbollah Not Covered
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been equally clear. His office released a statement declaring that the ceasefire “does not bind Israel in Lebanon” and that military operations against Hezbollah would continue .
Netanyahu has also announced that Israel will open direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” but has made clear that these talks would focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and would occur without any prior halt to military operations .
Iran’s Position: Lebanon Is ‘Inseparable’
Iran has vehemently rejected the US-Israeli interpretation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the terms of the ceasefire, as outlined by Prime Minister Sharif, were clear and included Lebanon .
“The US must choose between a ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both. The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the US’ court.” — Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf went further, stating that “Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire” and warning that continued Israeli attacks would “render negotiations meaningless” .
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also weighed in, posting on X that “our hands remain on the trigger” and that Iran “will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters” .
Why Lebanon’s Inclusion Matters to Iran
The intensity of Iran’s insistence on Lebanon’s inclusion is not merely diplomatic posturing. For Tehran, Hezbollah is not a disposable proxy but a core component of its national security strategy .
Hezbollah is Iran’s most powerful regional ally and a central part of the “Axis of Resistance,” a network of armed groups across the Middle East aligned with Iran against Israel. The group entered the current conflict after Israeli forces killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening strikes on February 28 .
Andreas Krieg, a professor at King’s College London, explained the stakes to Al Jazeera: “Lebanon might force Iran to retaliate against Israel to keep the balance of deterrence and show that Iran is a reliable security partner for Hezbollah. Israel will try to probe Iran where it can to test its resolve” .
A ceasefire that excludes Lebanon would, from Tehran’s perspective, weaken its defense strategy and undermine its credibility within its network of regional allies. If Hezbollah continues to be targeted while attacks on Iran remain paused, Iran would lose both leverage and the perception of reliability .
The Deadly Context: Israeli Strikes After the Ceasefire
The dispute over Lebanon’s inclusion is not an academic debate. Hours after the ceasefire was announced on April 7, Israel launched its most widespread attacks on Lebanon since the conflict began on March 2 .
Key figures from the strikes:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Killed in single day (April 8) | 303+ |
| Wounded in single day | 1,150+ |
| Total killed since March 2 | 1,888 |
| Total wounded since March 2 | 6,092 |
| Displaced persons | Over 1 million |
*Sources: Lebanese Health Ministry, UPI *
According to Lebanese Civil Defense, the attacks struck more than 100 targets across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon in approximately ten minutes—the most intense air campaign since the current conflict began . The United Nations described the casualty figures as “appalling,” with UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk calling the destruction “horrific” .
Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called the attacks on densely populated areas a “full-fledged war crime,” stating that “today’s crime, coinciding with the ceasefire agreement declared in the region—an agreement that Israel and its political and security apparatus have failed to uphold” .
Lebanon’s Diplomatic Push for Inclusion
Lebanese officials have launched their own intensive diplomatic efforts to secure inclusion in the ceasefire, seeking to ensure that their country is not sacrificed to a deal negotiated between Washington and Tehran.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, to emphasize that the ceasefire “must include Lebanon to prevent a recurrence of the Israeli aggressions” . Sharif, for his part, condemned the recent Israeli attacks and affirmed that Pakistan “is working to ensure peace and stability” in Lebanon .
President Joseph Aoun has urged Western and Arab officials to give Lebanon “an opportunity—just as was given to the United States and Iran—to reach a cease-fire and move toward negotiations” .
Notably, Aoun has also refused to allow Iran to negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf. “We have the ability and the means to negotiate ourselves, and therefore we do not want anyone to negotiate for us. This is something we do not accept,” Aoun said .
The Lebanese Cabinet has also decided to file an urgent complaint to the UN Security Council regarding the “dangerous escalation” of Israeli attacks, which came “in defiance of all international and regional efforts to halt the war in the region” .
International Reactions: Calls for Lebanon’s Inclusion
The international community has largely sided with Lebanon’s demand for inclusion in the ceasefire, with several major powers condemning the scale of the Israeli attacks and urging an extension of the truce.
European Union: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the ceasefire as “fragile” and told The National that continued Israeli strikes were “totally unnecessary” . EU commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, went further, stating that if Lebanon could not be included in the truce, a “separate arrangement” must be found .
France: France condemned Israel’s attacks while calling for Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire .
United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that Lebanon must also be included in the ceasefire, describing Israel’s continued assaults on Lebanon as “completely wrong” .
Qatar: Qatar condemned what it called a “brutal series” of attacks and urged the international community to act .
Egypt: Egypt said the attacks demonstrated a “premeditated intent” by Israel to undermine efforts at de-escalation in the region .
Turkiye: Turkiye warned that Israel’s attacks were worsening the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and called for immediate action to protect civilians .
Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X that Netanyahu’s “contempt for life and international law is intolerable” in light of the attacks .
United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement, said the “ongoing military activity in Lebanon” poses a “grave risk” to the ceasefire between the US and Iran .
The Islamabad Talks: A Diplomatic Crossroads
The dispute over Lebanon’s inclusion has thrown the scheduled Islamabad talks into doubt. Iran has insisted that its delegation will not participate unless the US upholds its commitments regarding Lebanon .
On Thursday, a source told Iran’s Fars news agency that “claims by some media outlets that an Iranian negotiating delegation has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to hold talks with US officials are completely false. Negotiations remain suspended until the US upholds its commitments regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon and the Israeli regime stops its attacks” .
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was expected to lead Iran’s delegation, cast further doubt on the talks. “In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable,” he said, accusing the US of breaching the 10-point peace framework that led to the pause in strikes .
However, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, sought to steady nerves on Thursday, stating that, despite public skepticism, a delegation would arrive for “serious talks” .
The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance and accompanied by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, is reportedly prepared to proceed . The talks are scheduled to take place at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, which Pakistani authorities have requisitioned for an “important event” .
What Comes Next: Three Possible Scenarios
As the diplomatic standoff continues, several scenarios are possible:
Scenario 1: Lebanon Is Formally Included
Under sustained international pressure, the US could revise its position and agree that the ceasefire extends to Lebanon. This outcome would preserve the diplomatic process and allow the Islamabad talks to proceed, but would require the US to exert pressure on Israel to halt its operations—a significant political challenge.
Scenario 2: A ‘Separate Arrangement’ for Lebanon
As suggested by EU Commissioner Dubravka Suica, a “separate arrangement” for Lebanon could be negotiated in parallel with the US-Iran talks . This could involve direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations, possibly under US mediation, focusing on Hezbollah’s disarmament and the establishment of peaceful relations .
Scenario 3: Iran Boycotts the Talks
If the US refuses to acknowledge Lebanon’s inclusion and Israeli strikes continue, Iran could follow through on its threat to boycott the Islamabad talks. This would effectively collapse the two-week ceasefire and likely trigger a return to full-scale war.
The outcome will likely become clear in the coming hours as delegations arrive—or fail to arrive—in Islamabad.
Conclusion: A Ceasefire in Name Only?
The statement from Prime Minister Sharif’s aide reaffirming Lebanon’s inclusion in the US-Iran ceasefire cuts to the heart of a dispute that threatens to unravel the entire diplomatic process. Pakistan, as the mediator, has been consistent: the truce was always intended to cover all fronts, including Lebanon.
The United States and Israel, however, have offered a dramatically different interpretation—one that allows Israeli military operations against Hezbollah to continue even as direct US-Iran hostilities are paused.
For Iran, this is not an acceptable outcome. Hezbollah is too central to Tehran’s security strategy to be abandoned, and allowing its key ally to be pummelled while the broader ceasefire holds would signal weakness and unreliability.
As the Islamabad talks approach—or fail to approach—the world watches to see whether this fundamental disagreement can be resolved. The Lebanese people, already reeling from the deadliest strikes in years, have the most at stake.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What did the Pakistani Prime Minister’s aide say about Lebanon and the ceasefire?
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, told CNN that the ceasefire agreement “could not have been more authentic” and that Lebanon is included. He stated that the understanding came from the “highest level in Pakistan” and was accepted by both conflicting parties .
2. Did Prime Minister Sharif originally say Lebanon was included?
Yes. On April 7, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on X that Iran and the United States, “along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY” .
3. Why does the US say Lebanon is not included?
President Trump has stated that Lebanon was “not included” in the agreement and described the war there as “a separate skirmish.” Vice President JD Vance has reinforced this position, stating that the ceasefire “just didn’t” include Lebanon .
4. What has been Israel’s position?
Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that the ceasefire “does not bind Israel in Lebanon” and that military operations against Hezbollah will continue. However, he has also announced that Israel will open direct negotiations with Lebanon .
5. Why is Iran insisting on Lebanon’s inclusion?
Hezbollah is Iran’s most powerful regional ally and a central part of its “Axis of Resistance.” Allowing Hezbollah to be attacked while Iran is at peace would weaken Iran’s defense strategy and undermine its credibility with its regional partners .
6. What happened in Lebanon after the ceasefire was announced?
Hours after the ceasefire announcement, Israel launched its most widespread attacks on Lebanon since the conflict began, killing over 300 people and wounding more than 1,150 in a single day .
7. Are the Islamabad talks still happening?
The status of the talks is uncertain. Iran has stated that its delegation will not participate unless the US upholds its commitments regarding Lebanon. However, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan has indicated a delegation will arrive for “serious talks” .
8. Who is leading the delegations to the Islamabad talks?
The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The Iranian delegation is expected to be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi .
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