Middle East: diplomatic efforts continue amid military escalation and sanctions

Diplomatic efforts in the Middle East persist, with Pakistan's Prime Minister calling for de-escalation between Iran and Israel and suggesting an imminent peace agreement between Tehran and Washington, despite a lack of corroborating evidence. These appeals follow an Israeli military action after a Hezbollah rocket launch. Concurrently, the Israeli army directed residents of Tyre in southern Lebanon to evacuate northward, even as a conditional ceasefire was in effect. Within Israel, discussions reflect 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