President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have contradicted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s assertion that a recent ceasefire agreement includes Lebanon, stating it does not.
Sharif announced on social media that the deal, brokered with Iran and the United States, explicitly covers Lebanon. Trump did not immediately correct him after the announcement.
However, during an interview with PBS reporter Liz Landers today, Trump denied Lebanon’s inclusion in the agreement, citing Hezbollah as the reason. Vance echoed this position in a separate statement.
The dispute has escalated as Israel conducted coordinated strikes across Lebanon targeting over 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites, including intelligence centers and military command posts. Iran has responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the attacks violated the ceasefire terms.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that reports of the strait’s closure are false, but multiple sources indicate it remains blocked. Iran warned that it would reclose the strait if Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued.
Sharif had previously declared Lebanon included in the deal and invited U.S. delegations to Islamabad for further negotiations. Both Trump and Vance have maintained that Lebanon was not part of the agreement, with Vance stating: “We never made that promise… What we said is that the ceasefire will be focused on Iran and the United States’ allies.”
The White House has confirmed that Vice President Vance will lead negotiations in Pakistan starting Saturday, but Iran’s mediators have stated they will not participate unless Lebanon is included in the agreement.