President Donald Trump says Iranian leaders "talk much differently when you're at a meeting than they do to the press" as he expressed optimism on ceasefire negotiations to take place in Pakistan over the next days.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said leaders in private are "much more reasonable" and are "agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to."
"Remember, they've been conquered. They have no military," Trump added, later warning that "if they don't make a deal, it's going to be very painful."
Trump also said he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuto "low-key" attacks in Lebanon as Tehran warns it won't engage in negotiations if Israel continues attacking Hezbollah in the country.
Israel did announce that it opened direct negotiations with Lebanon, but appears to refuse halting its attacks.
A Lebanese official told AFP that the country wants a ceasefire before engaging in talks, while an Israeli one claimed they will be conducted while hostilities continue.
According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, the first meeting is agreed upon and will take place at the State Department next week. "The U.S. side will be led by the Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Israel will be represented by its Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter. The Lebanese side will be represented by its Ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh-Moawad," he added.
The development comes as Israel continued to escalate attacks in Lebanon. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that Ali Youssef Kharshi, secretary and nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, was killed in Beirut.
Netanyahu added that, "at the same time, overnight, the IDF struck a series of terror infrastructures in southern Lebanon: crossings used to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and launchers, as well as weapons depots, launchers, and Hezbollah headquarters."
At the same time, a Hezbollah lawmaker reiterated that the group will reject any direct conversations between Israel and Lebanon.
In a statement shared through the Iranian proxy's media channel, Ali Fayyad said Hezbollah reiterates "the necessity of upholding national principles, foremost among them the Israeli withdrawal, the cessation of hostilities, and the return of residents to their villages and towns."
He also called on the Lebanese government to "adhere to the ceasefire as a precondition before proceeding with any further steps."
