Middle East: Diplomatic efforts continue amid military escalation and new sanctions

Diplomatic efforts continue in the Middle East amid ongoing military actions. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for de-escalation between Iran and Israel, asserting that a peace agreement between Tehran and Washington was nearing completion, though this claim lacks corroboration. These appeals follow an Israeli military response to a Hezbollah rocket launch. Concurrently, the Israeli army instructed residents of Tyre in southern Lebanon to evacuate northward, despite a conditional ceasefire being in effect. Within Israel, discussions highlight concerns over Iran's perceived defiance, with one military correspondent stating, "Israel must not accept the American diktat imposing to remain idle and not retaliate." The ongoing US-Israeli campaign against Iran is viewed as costly, potentially granting Tehran new leverage. Separately, France, in coordination with several international partners, has banned Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich from its territory, citing his policies that "actively promote the annexation of the West Bank." Sources: Le Monde