Israeli, Lebanese representatives expected to meet for talks in coming days: media

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are expected to meet for a round of talks in the coming days amid the intensified fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported Saturday.

The newspaper cited a source familiar with the matter as saying that former Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who was asked to handle the "Lebanon file" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will meet with the Lebanese representatives for direct negotiations.

The source added that the United States is also involved in the process, led on its behalf by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Another source told the newspaper that the talks between Israel and Lebanon could take place in Cyprus or Paris.

According to another Lebanese official source on Saturday, the Lebanese president, prime minister, and speaker of Parliament are discussing forming a negotiating delegation, likely composed of ambassadorial-level officials, for the potential talks.

Cyprus is being considered as a potential meeting location, but Lebanon is open to holding talks in the capital of any European country, according to the source.

Israeli, Lebanese representatives expected to meet for talks in coming days: media

The U.S. decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil is intended to help stabilize global energy markets, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

Peskov said Washington's move aligned with Russia's interests and could help calm energy markets as concerns grow over a worsening global energy crisis.

"Without significant volumes of Russian oil, stabilizing the market would be impossible," Peskov said.

He said the U.S. exemption applies only to Russian oil that was loaded onto ships before Thursday and does not signal a broader rollback of oil-related sanctions on Russia.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license Thursday, allowing Russian oil shipments loaded before Thursday to be sold, delivered or offloaded through April 11, Eastern Time.

Since the United States and Israel launched large-scale military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, sending international oil prices sharply higher. In response, members of the International Energy Agency agreed to release a combined 400 million barrels from strategic petroleum reserves.

U.S. easing of sanctions on Russian oil to stabilize energy markets: Kremlin