Israel backs Trump’s two-week pause on Iran strikes, says Lebanon excluded

Israel supports ​U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision ‌to suspend strikes against Iran ​for two weeks, but ⁠said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin ‌Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday (April 8, 2026).

The office said ‌Israel backed the ‌U.S. ⁠move provided Tehran immediately opens ⁠the straits and stops attacks against the United States, Israel and ​countries in ‌the region. The remarks came after Washington announced a two-week suspension of strikes against Iran ‌as part of ​efforts to de-escalate the conflict and open a ⁠window for negotiations.

Israel also said it supports U.S. efforts ‌to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile or “terror” threat to U.S., Israel and Iran’s Arab neighbours, adding that Washington ‌had told Israel it was committed ​to achieving their shared goals in upcoming negotiations.

Iran ⁠said on Wednesday negotiations with ⁠the U.S. would begin on Friday, April 10 ‌in Islamabad.