US never promised: JD Vance denies including Lebanon in Iran truce talks

Conflicting ceasefire claims by JD Vance and Shehbaz Sharif emerged as Israel intensified strikes on Lebanon, with over 250 people killed and Hezbollah resuming attacks.

In Short

• US vice president JD Vance rejects Lebanon's inclusion in ceasefire
• Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif claims ceasefire covers Lebanon, US allies
• Conflicting statements reveal unclear US-Iran war ceasefire terms

A sharp divergence has surfaced between JD Vance and Shehbaz Sharif over the scope of the reported ceasefire, raising fresh questions about what the agreement actually covers.

Vance publicly pushed back against claims that the truce extended to Lebanon, suggesting that Iran may have misread the terms of the deal. "I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. We never made that promise," Vance said, asserting that Lebanon was never part of the ceasefire framework.

In contrast, Sharif had earlier indicated in a public statement that the ceasefire included Lebanon and US allies, even tagging Vance in his announcement. His remarks appeared to suggest a broader agreement than what Washington now acknowledges.

He clarified that the ceasefire was narrowly defined, centred on Iran and Washington’s regional partners.

"What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran, and the ceasefire would be focused on America's allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states," he said.

The development came as Israel launched its deadliest strikes on Lebanon since fighting with Hezbollah erupted last month, with more than 250 people killed on Wednesday.

The Iran-backed armed group, which had briefly paused attacks under the two-week US-Iran ceasefire, soon resumed rocket fire towards northern Israel, underlining the fragility of the truce.

On Wednesday afternoon, a series of at least five back-to-back strikes hit Beirut, sending thick plumes of smoke over the capital as Israel described the operation as its largest coordinated assault of the war, news agency Reuters reported. The military said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah command centres and military targets across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon within a span of ten minutes.

Lebanon's civil defence service said 254 people were killed and more than 1,100 injured nationwide, with Beirut accounting for the highest toll at 91 deaths. The health ministry, however, reported 182 fatalities across the country, cautioning that the figure was provisional.

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