Israel seeks Hezbollah disarmament, Lebanon calls for ceasefire in talks in US

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Israel seeks Hezbollah disarmament, Lebanon calls for ceasefire in talks in US

2026-04-15 05:10 Last Updated At：04-16 12:05

Israel and Lebanon laid out different expectations on a peace deal during talks in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, with Israel insisting on Hezbollah's disarmament and Lebanon calling for a ceasefire and concrete measures to ease the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.

The statement was released after the trilateral talks between Israel, Lebanon and the United States.

The talks, lasting for more than two hours, were attended by Israeli and Lebanese delegations led respectively by Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio chaired the meeting.

The statement noted that "participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon."

The United States stressed that any ceasefire agreement must be reached by the two governments under U.S. mediation. The talks hold the potential to advance Lebanon's reconstruction and economic recovery, while expanding regional investment opportunities, according to the statement.

The Israeli side expressed support for the dismantling of all non-state armed forces within Lebanon and the removal of related "terror infrastructure," pledging to resolve differences through direct negotiations in pursuit of lasting peace and regional stability.

Lebanon, for its part, reaffirmed the need for full implementation of the ceasefire statement issued in November 2024, underscoring its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and calling for concrete steps to address the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict.

All parties agreed to formally launch direct negotiations at a time and place mutually agreed upon by Israel and Lebanon, the statement noted.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.