Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire as US-Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz crisis deepen

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire for three weeks following talks held at the White House, in a diplomatic effort brokered by US President Donald Trump amid wider regional instability involving Iran.

The extension comes as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon remains one of the key flashpoints in the broader eight-week regional conflict, alongside disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump said he was willing to wait for what he described as “the best deal,” insisting that any final agreement must be “everlasting.” He added that the United States was not under pressure to rush negotiations and maintained that Washington held a strategic advantage in the ongoing maritime and military standoff.

Uncertainty persists over second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad

Trump also downplayed Iran’s recent maritime actions, referring to its fast-attack boats as “little wise-guy ships,” while suggesting that Iran’s leadership was struggling internally and therefore less capable of reaching a long-term agreement.

Despite the ceasefire extension, tensions remain high in the region. Iran recently seized two large cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz using fast-boat tactics, underscoring its continued ability to disrupt one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. The Strait remains effectively unstable, contributing to rising oil prices and renewed volatility in global markets.

The Philippine government confirmed that 15 Filipino nationals aboard the seized vessels are safe and expects the ships to be released soon.

Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership rejected US claims of internal disarray, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei stating that such narratives are part of “enemy media operations” aimed at weakening Iranian unity.

As ceasefire talks continue without a firm long-term agreement, markets remain on edge, with oil prices rising and investors turning to safe-haven assets amid uncertainty over whether diplomacy will hold or the conflict will escalate further.