Lebanese president visits U.S. as mediators try to revive Iranian peace talks

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Tuesday with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni during an official visit by Momeni to Islamabad. The visit came amid hopes by some to revive shattered talks to end the ongoing Iran War. Previous talks broke down when a ceasefire brokered between the United States and Iran dissolved earlier this month.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei reported Monday that mediators started sending peace proposals ahead of anticipated indirect negotiations. Diplomatic gears started moving again, Baghaei said, without sharing further details from the peace proposals. Baghaei also expressed doubt at the United States’ readiness for diplomacy, describing U.S. talks as just intimidation and threats. Iran will continue defending its dignity and national sovereignty while America keeps imposing sanctions and demands, Baghaei said.

The spokesman also characterized Iran’s renewed strikes on its neighboring countries and the U.S. military as legitimate self-defense. Iran repeatedly asked neighboring Gulf nations to honor their obligations under international law and stop America from attacking Islamic territory, Baghaei said. The strikes would continue as long as the military crimes and aggression against Iran continue, he added.

What’s happening on America’s side? President Donald Trump released a Tuesday morning statement characterizing the Iranian regime as savages for executing those he described as innocent protesters. Trump said he planned to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House on Tuesday.

Aoun already met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday and discussed both countries aligning positions to achieve an initial and partial Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, according to Aoun’s office. The pair also discussed strengthening U.S. support for Lebanon’s military and a path forward for economic investments from America in Lebanon’s energy, communication, and transportation sectors, the statement said.

The United States cautioned Americans against travel to the Middle East on Monday. Attacks have targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities and citizens should exercise heightened vigilance as Iran may target any U.S. interests or associates, travel officials reported. The renewed travel warning came one day after Iranian strikes killed three U.S. service members over the weekend.

A growing number of lawmakers were petitioning Tuesday for the United States to end its involvement in the Iranian war, citing the high funding costs and continued loss of life. Trump promised a quick victory in the war on Iran that would end with unconditional surrender, according to a Monday statement by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.. The president lied, because people have only seen American soldiers killed or injured and tens of billions of taxpayer dollars wasted, Booker continued. The president needed to be held accountable for these failures, and the blank checks to fund warfare must be stopped, he added.