Iran war: Israel says it will hold talks with Lebanon 'soon'

Key Points:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his Cabinet to begin direct talks with Lebanon "as soon as possible," focusing on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace relations, despite ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
• Iran insists that Lebanon is included in the US-Iran ceasefire agreement and warns that peace talks depend on the cessation of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which Tehran considers a violation of the truce.
• The death toll from Israel's recent strikes on Lebanon has risen to over 300, with more than 1,150 injured, while over 4 million people have been displaced in the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon since February 28.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany would resume talks with Iran to help end the war, expressing concern that Israel's offensive in Lebanon could jeopardize the peace process and warning against divisions within NATO.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the Middle East war could cause food insecurity for up to 45 million people due to disrupted supply chains and rising energy costs, and anticipated increased demand for financial assistance in affected countries.