US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Thursday that Washington will negotiate directly with Lebanon’s sovereign government on Lebanon-Israel border issues, explicitly separating those talks from the parallel US-Iran framework. Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi after meetings with Gulf allies, Rubio reaffirmed that Iran has no legal right to levy tolls in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any future investment in Iran would hinge on measurable progress on regional security.

The announcement came as the US and Iran moved closer to a structured de-escalation. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tehran and Washington have agreed to open a direct communication channel and establish a de-confliction cell, with mediators from Islamabad and Doha laying out a 60-day roadmap toward a final peace accord. Technical talks are scheduled to resume next week.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun separately told international mediators in Washington that Beirut’s negotiations with Israel remain on a distinct track from the US-Iran process. Aoun outlined a phased plan that begins with consolidating the current ceasefire, followed by Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese army deployment, reconstruction of border areas, and the release of prisoners, while discussions on pilot zones continue.

The Strait of Hormuz dispute intensified hours after Rubio’s remarks, when Iran and Oman announced a joint permit system asserting control over parts of the waterway. Hours later, former US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran had pledged not to impose tolls, threatening to walk away from any deal if charges were introduced. Analysts warn that Iranian control over Hormuz would constitute a major strategic shift in the Gulf.

In parallel, the US Senate voted 50-48 to adopt a nonbinding War Powers Resolution demanding that President Trump end military hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorizes further action. Four Republican senators joined Democrats in support, though the measure carries no legal force since Washington and Tehran have already agreed to a 60-day ceasefire under the Pakistan-Qatar framework.

Turkish Deputy Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, addressing the Parliamentary Union of the OIC in Baku, urged the Islamic world to undertake sweeping reforms while welcoming “positive developments” in the Switzerland-based US-Iran negotiations. He also called for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and an end to what he termed the “war imposed on Tehran.”

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, told the same Baku summit that ending the Lebanon conflict is as vital to regional stability as achieving a ceasefire inside Iran itself, as the two tracks of diplomacy converge under the US-Iran memorandum.

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yenisafak · about 2 hours ago

Rubio: US to deal directly with Lebanon, separate from Iran deal US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington will negotiate directly with Lebanons sovereign government on Lebanon-Israel issues, separate from the US-Iran framework. He reaffirmed that Iran cannot charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz under international law, and said any investment in Iran would depend on progress on security issues.

yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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euronews · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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independent · about 3 hours ago

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aljazeera · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago

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yenisafak · about 3 hours ago