OPENING HORMUZ “VITAL”
Iran’s military, meanwhile, remained defiant on Saturday.
In a statement carried by state media, the military’s central command said that if “the invading US military continues blockading, banditry, and piracy in the region, they should be certain that they will face a response from Iran’s powerful armed forces”.
Tehran’s defence ministry, in a statement carried by news agency ISNA, said: “Our military power today is a dominant force, and the enemy is looking for a face-saving way to escape the war quagmire it has become trapped in.”
Since the last round of talks, efforts to bring the two sides back to the table have hit an impasse, with Iran refusing to participate as long as a US naval blockade on its ports remains in place.
Iran has imposed a de facto blockade of its own on the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only a trickle of ships to pass through the vital waterway, throwing global energy markets into turmoil.
Oil prices slid on Friday amid hopes that fresh peace talks would see an end to Tehran’s disruption of trade through the strait.
European Council President Antonio Costa said the strait “must immediately reopen without restrictions and without tolling”.
“This is vital for the entire world,” Costa said.
“DESTROYED”
On Thursday, Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension in Lebanon and spoke in glowing terms of peace prospects for the country after meeting with Israeli and Lebanese envoys.
He voiced hope for a three-way meeting with Lebanon and Israel’s leaders.
The two countries have been officially at war for decades and until last week, officials had not met directly since 1993.
But Mohammed Raad, the head of the parliamentary bloc for Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, urged the Lebanese government to withdraw from direct talks with Israel and warned that a lasting peace deal of the kind sought by Trump “will in no way enjoy Lebanese national consensus”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to destroy Hezbollah, said: “We have started a process to reach a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it’s clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this.”
Despite the ceasefire, Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on Saturday in the Nabatieh district of the south of the country had killed four people.
In the coastal city of Sidon, Ahmad Shumar and his family were preparing to head back to their hometown in the south this week, after giving up on a previous attempt due to fears of Israeli attacks.
“We are going home now, not knowing whether there will be war or peace – we will see,” the 74-year-old said, surrounded by bags and mattresses.
While Shumar said he hoped the ceasefire became permanent, he rejected any direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
“Direct negotiations mean recognising the enemy,” which he said he could not abide.
In south Lebanon’s Tyre, Mohamad Ali Hijazi was searching a mountain of rubble for mementos of family members killed in an Israeli airstrike minutes before the ceasefire took hold.
“I’m trying to find my mother’s hairbrush … and a bottle of perfume that she loves,” said Hijazi, 48.
“My life has been destroyed. I haven’t slept for five days,” he told AFP, fighting back tears.