BEIRUT, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that ongoing direct negotiations are at a sensitive phase and underscored the need for a unified national stance in the coming period, according to a presidency statement.

TEHRAN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on Islamic countries to prevent Israel from using their lands against Muslims, according to a statement posted on the presidential office's website on Friday.Iran considers all Muslim states as its brothers, seeks lasting peace and stability in the West Asia region, and insists on safeguarding its people's rights within international law, Pezeshkian told visiting Pakistan Army Chief Asim on Thursday, according to the statement.Pezeshkian noted that Iran's targeting of U.S. military bases in the region during the war with the United States and Israel was an action taken within the framework of defense necessities and in response to the conditions imposed on the country. In addition to U.S. military assets, Iran inflicted damage to civilian and energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.He condemned the U.S. and Israeli criminal and illegal aggression against Iran, saying it was launched against Iran without any reason.During the meeting, Pezeshkian praised Pakistan's effective role in mediating a ceasefire between Iran and the United States and hosting their subsequent peace talks.Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, leading a high-level delegation as part of ongoing efforts to mediate U.S.-Iran talks.Pezeshkian noted that the war is in no party's interest, adding that the United States will not achieve victory and that other countries will suffer serious material damage and losses.Pezeshkian said the United States and Israel have resorted to hostile and provocative actions ever since he took office as Iran's president in July 2024, adding that Iran, however, has never sought instability in the region and seeks to develop brotherly ties with the neighboring and regional states.He underlined the Iranian people's distrust of the United States owing to the frequent violations of its commitments, attacking Iran in the middle of negotiations and ass...

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday in a statement that Israeli forces will continue to hold all areas they have "cleared and seized" in Lebanon, underscoring that military operations against Hezbollah are not yet complete, despite a ceasefire

Israeli defense minister says disarming Hezbollah 'by military or diplomatic means' remains central objective: media