Ruptly
"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there are indications of a resumption of talks between the US and Iran, after the first round of negotiations between the two ended without an agreement in Pakistan. “The indication we have is that it is highly probable that these talks will restart,” Guterres said while responding to a question during a media stakeout in New York. He said he had even held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, expressing gratitude for their efforts to restore peace in the Middle East. “Peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will,” he said. “Serious negotiations must resume. And the ceasefire must be preserved and extended as necessary.” Elsewhere, when responding to another question on the ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, the secretary-general said he expected the talks to create conditions for change. “Nobody expects that these talks today will solve all the problems,” he said. “But I think it will be very important if these talks create the conditions for a change in the way the actors have been developing their activities.” "Hezbollah and Israel have always helped each other to destabilise the government of Lebanon," he explained, noting that Israeli actions in Lebanon are used as a pretext by Hezbollah to reject disarmament, while Hezbollah rocket attacks against Israel serve as a pretext for a 'massive operation' against Lebanon in response. "So it's time for Israel and Lebanon to be working together instead of Lebanon being the victim of this kind of negative, I would say, negative conjugation of the actions of Hezbollah and Israel,” he explained. Furthermore, Guterres stressed that international law is being violated across the globe, urging nations to turn to diplomacy over military solutions. "Justice is meant to be blind. But today, too many are choosing to turn a blind eye to justice," he commented. "Starkly in the Middle East, respect for international law is being trampled," he continued, adding pointedly that "international law applies to all states, without exception." "This wholesale assault on international law has consequences. Lawlessness breeds chaos. Lawlessness fuels suffering. Lawlessness leads to destruction," he added. This comes as talks between the US and Iran could resume in coming days after President Donald Trump was quoted as saying that American officials are more inclined to go to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Trump announced a maritime blockade to and from Iranian ports after the first round of talks bore no results."
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