Speaking before boarding Air Force One, Trump described the discussions in Doha as “very good meetings” and said efforts related to Iran’s nuclear programme were moving in a positive direction.

“We hit them very hard… but we’re getting along very well,” Trump told reporters.

The negotiations follow a memorandum of understanding brokered by Qatar and Pakistan and agreed at a summit in Lucerne, Switzerland, last month. The framework includes a 60-day ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a timetable for negotiating a permanent agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader regional conflict.

A diplomat familiar with the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations, confirmed that technical-level discussions were underway in Doha with Qatari and Pakistani mediators. The diplomat said the meetings were focused on implementing the memorandum and building on agreements reached in Lucerne.

Iran rejected earlier suggestions that direct negotiations with the United States were taking place.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran’s delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and stressed that Iranian officials had no plans to hold direct negotiations with U.S. representatives during the current round of talks.

The diplomat also said U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were not participating in the technical discussions after meeting Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting reviewed ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations under the memorandum of understanding as well as developments in Lebanon. The office of Qatar’s Emir later confirmed that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also met the two U.S. envoys.

Analysts said the negotiations remained at an early stage despite positive public messaging.

Anna Jacobs, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said continued engagement after recent military exchanges was a constructive sign, although many disagreements were still being addressed privately.

H.A. Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute said differing public statements from Washington and Tehran reflected limited transparency surrounding the talks.

Implementation of the agreement has faced challenges since it was signed. Iran and the United States exchanged military strikes after Tehran targeted a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian military positions. Iran later launched attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, which both countries condemned.

Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said implementation issues were expected following a conflict of such scale and that the Doha talks would focus on provisions relating to the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict in Lebanon.

Recent exchanges of fire have eased in the lead-up to the negotiations, while hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have also remained relatively subdued.

The agreement links the restoration of full Lebanese state authority in southern Lebanon to the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah. Analysts say the arrangement places obligations on Lebanon that its government and military are unable to enforce while offering no guaranteed timetable for an Israeli withdrawal.

Hezbollah has rejected any move to disarm, and successive Lebanese governments have acknowledged the limits of their authority over the group, which remains the country’s most powerful armed faction. Analysts say this leaves Israel with grounds to maintain an open-ended military presence in southern Lebanon.

“This is not an agreement, it is an imposed settlement,” a senior Lebanese politician, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. The official said the Lebanese army lacks both the structure and capability to disarm Hezbollah and that attempting to do so would threaten Lebanon’s fragile sectarian balance.

Michael Young, a Beirut-based political analyst, said the framework placed the burden almost entirely on Lebanon while allowing Israel to remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely if the disarmament condition is not met.

Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, described the agreement as “born dead,” arguing that it depends on a condition that is politically and practically unattainable. He said Israel had already established a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon and that the agreement risked giving that presence long-term diplomatic legitimacy.

The framework forms part of wider diplomatic efforts linked to easing regional tensions following the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Analysts said separating the Lebanon file from broader regional negotiations has provided Israel with greater flexibility in maintaining its military posture along the border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented the agreement as a step toward broader regional stability while maintaining that Israeli forces will remain in the designated security zone until Hezbollah and other armed groups are disarmed and no longer pose a threat to northern Israel.

Three senior Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel has limited confidence in Lebanon’s ability to disarm Hezbollah but views the agreement as an important diplomatic framework for future normalization efforts with its northern neighbor.

The conflict in Lebanon has displaced around one million people and resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths during Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, according to figures cited in the report.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the agreement as an initial step toward restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and facilitating the return of displaced residents. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected the framework, describing it as an imposed arrangement that failed to safeguard Lebanon’s interests.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared the agreement “null and void” and said the group would continue resisting Israeli forces until they withdraw from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah warned that efforts to implement the deal through forced disarmament could trigger internal conflict.

Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence officer and regional analyst, said Hezbollah’s dismantlement was unlikely under current conditions and predicted that Israel would continue its military deployment while Hezbollah retained its weapons.

He argued that a narrower agreement focused on Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River, combined with an expanded Lebanese army deployment, would have had greater prospects for implementation.

Mohammed Obeid, an analyst close to Hezbollah, also questioned the viability of the agreement, saying its provisions carried the potential to destabilize Lebanon by making state action against Hezbollah a prerequisite for implementation.

In a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Israeli forces entered areas in the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa and shelled parts of the region, describing the actions as violations of Syrian sovereignty, international law, the United Nations Charter and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement governing the ceasefire line on the occupied Golan Heights.

The ministry said the operations had endangered civilians, undermined efforts to restore stability and risked further escalating tensions in the region. It urged the United Nations and the broader international community to take steps to halt what it called repeated Israeli violations and ensure compliance with the 1974 agreement.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the latest Israeli military actions, denouncing what it described as continued violations by Israeli authorities, including incursions into Syrian territory and artillery strikes targeting Quneitra and Daraa.

Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war and effectively annexed the territory in 1981, a move not recognized by most of the international community.

During the rule of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria, saying they targeted Iranian military infrastructure and weapons transfers to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

Since Assad’s government fell earlier this year, Syrian authorities have repeatedly accused Israel of expanding military operations near the demilitarized zone in southern Syria. Israeli officials have said such operations are intended to prevent hostile armed groups from establishing a presence near Israel’s border and to safeguard national security.

Separately, the Eighth Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments, meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, reaffirmed support for Syria’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

In its final communiqué, the conference condemned repeated Israeli attacks on Syria and Lebanon, stressed the importance of protecting the sovereignty of Arab states and called for greater regional coordination to address common security challenges.

Delegates also condemned Iranian attacks on several Arab countries and adopted a resolution reaffirming support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people while opposing Israeli policies that they said sought to undermine the Palestinian cause.

Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi called for stronger Arab solidarity and closer coordination to confront mounting regional security challenges.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported the drone strike but did not immediately provide details on casualties, damage or the intended target.

The reported attack came less than 24 hours after the two countries agreed to a U.S.-mediated security framework designed to reduce violence along the frontier, where repeated exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have raised concerns over a broader regional conflict.

Neither the Israeli military nor Lebanese authorities immediately commented on the reported strike, and no further operational details were available.

The new security arrangement seeks to stabilize the border after months of escalating hostilities that have displaced civilians on both sides and heightened regional security concerns. It remains unclear whether Saturday’s reported strike will affect implementation of the agreement.

Lebanon’s state news agency reported that the strike hit the town of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa, an area located outside the security zone shown on a map released by Israel depicting an expanded area under the control of its forces in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military confirmed to Reuters that it had conducted the strike using a drone, stating that no Israeli ground forces were operating in the immediate vicinity at the time of the attack.

The military said the target was an individual who posed a threat to Israeli troops but did not identify the person or provide evidence supporting the claim.

The strike came less than 24 hours after Israel and Lebanon concluded a U.S.-mediated security framework aimed at easing cross-border tensions after months of exchanges of fire involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The agreement is intended to reduce the risk of renewed escalation along the frontier.

Lebanese authorities did not immediately report casualties or provide additional details on the incident. There was no immediate response from Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the strike hit a vehicle traveling on the road between the towns of Zawtar and Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh region.

The attack marks the third deadly incident in southern Lebanon since Tuesday, bringing the total number of people killed in Israeli strikes this week to seven despite a recent reduction in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Medical and security sources confirmed casualties from the strike, which was carried out by an Israeli drone. No immediate statement was issued by the Israeli military regarding the operation.

The incident comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment as Lebanese and Israeli officials are holding a fifth round of direct negotiations in Washington under US mediation. The talks are aimed at reducing tensions along the border and addressing outstanding security issues following months of conflict.

Although fighting has eased in recent weeks, sporadic Israeli strikes and security incidents continue to raise concerns about the durability of the fragile calm in southern Lebanon.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the identities of those killed and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Bahrain, Rubio said the two countries are close to achieving what he described as a “commitment of intent,” signaling a possible breakthrough in efforts to ease tensions and advance dialogue between the neighboring states.

“I think we are very close in our hopes of getting a commitment of intent between the two countries,” Rubio said.

The comments come as Israeli and Lebanese officials continue US-mediated discussions aimed at addressing security concerns and reducing tensions along the border following months of conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah.

The latest round of negotiations, taking place in Washington, is the fifth direct engagement between representatives of the two countries under American facilitation.

Rubio’s remarks suggest growing confidence within the US administration that the talks could lead to further diplomatic steps and contribute to greater stability along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

Despite the positive tone of the negotiations, sporadic security incidents have continued in southern Lebanon, highlighting the challenges that remain in achieving a lasting reduction in hostilities.

Officials from both countries have not yet publicly commented on the details of any potential agreement.

This year’s observance carries particular significance as it comes after months of conflict in Iran and Lebanon. In Iran, mourning ceremonies were held amid national grief following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike earlier this year. Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran, participating in traditional rituals including chest-beating processions, elegies, and religious gatherings.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used the occasion to emphasize the values of standing against oppression and remaining committed to justice, themes closely associated with Imam Hussein’s legacy.

In Lebanon, Ashoura was marked against the backdrop of destruction caused by recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Many displaced families have begun returning to their hometowns in southern Lebanon, where religious ceremonies were held among damaged buildings and war-torn neighborhoods. Supporters also visited the grave of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, Pakistan deployed thousands of security personnel nationwide to protect Ashoura processions following intelligence warnings about possible militant attacks targeting the country’s Shiite minority. Authorities temporarily suspended mobile phone services in some areas as a precautionary measure.

Ashoura remains the holiest day in the Shiite calendar and continues to inspire millions through Imam Hussein’s message of courage, sacrifice, and resistance against tyranny.

The issue emerged amid ongoing US-mediated talks in Washington aimed at reducing tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border following the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Discussions have centered on a proposed “pilot zone” under which Israeli forces would transfer control of certain occupied Lebanese territories to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

A US official claimed Israel had already withdrawn from part of its self-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon, calling it a significant demonstration of good faith. The official urged the Lebanese army to move into the area and remove Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure, suggesting the model could eventually be expanded across southern Lebanon.

However, senior Israeli defense officials firmly rejected the claim, stating that there had been no withdrawal and that Israeli forces would remain in the buffer zone. Israel’s military also confirmed that troop positions had not changed.

Lebanese military officials likewise disputed reports of any pullback, saying developments on the ground indicated the opposite. They accused Israel of continuing to enforce strict control over the buffer zone, preventing both civilians and Lebanese military personnel from entering.

According to Lebanese officials, disagreements persist over how the pilot zone proposal should be implemented. Beirut wants the initiative to begin within the Israeli-controlled buffer zone and seeks a clear roadmap for a full Israeli withdrawal. Israel, meanwhile, prefers to negotiate individual areas separately and has not committed to a timetable.

Israel established the buffer zone following its conflict with Hezbollah, arguing that it is necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from future attacks. Lebanese authorities maintain that the continued Israeli military presence violates Lebanese sovereignty and delays the return of displaced residents.

The conflicting statements underscore the challenges facing ongoing diplomatic efforts despite signs of progress in US-sponsored negotiations between the two countries.

Municipal authorities say Israeli airstrikes conducted during the latest round of hostilities killed about 60 people in Tyre, destroyed 26 buildings and damaged roughly 1,000 homes, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee after evacuation warnings were issued earlier this month.

The attacks followed Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, drawing extensive Israeli military strikes across southern Lebanon as regional tensions escalated.

Although fighting has largely subsided following last week’s U.S.-Iran agreement and a subsequent reduction in hostilities along the Lebanese front, evidence of the conflict remains visible throughout Tyre, where damaged buildings, shattered storefronts and piles of rubble continue to dominate several neighborhoods.

Heavy equipment operators have been working around the clock to clear roads and remove debris. Residents searching through collapsed buildings for personal belongings have often found little remaining of their homes.

Authorities estimate that more than two-thirds of those displaced from the city have returned since the ceasefire took hold, beginning efforts to restore normal life despite continuing security concerns.

Business owners are among those leading the recovery. Hussein Hassan, a barber who returned after fleeing with his family during the conflict, reopened his shop despite structural damage that left walls cracked and windows destroyed.

Across the city, merchants and homeowners are undertaking repairs while assessing losses caused by the bombardment. Ali Samhat, who operates a neighborhood mini-market damaged in an airstrike, said reconstruction efforts had begun immediately after residents returned.

The destruction has also affected members of Lebanon’s diaspora. Abbas Ashour, who lives and works in Britain, returned to search the remains of the apartment he had purchased and furnished for his family before it was destroyed during the fighting.

Despite the damage, local officials are attempting to revive economic activity ahead of the summer tourism season. Deputy Mayor Alwan Charafeddine said plans are moving forward to reopen beachfront businesses and establish new cafes and kiosks along the city’s coastline.

Tyre, known for its beaches and historical significance, remains one of southern Lebanon’s most important tourist destinations. Residents have gradually returned to public spaces, including the city’s waterfront, where families and visitors have resumed recreational activities following weeks of displacement.

Many residents, however, remain cautious about the future. Israeli forces continue to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon, and both sides have exchanged accusations and threats since the ceasefire came into effect.

For now, the city’s recovery reflects a determination among residents to rebuild livelihoods disrupted by conflict while hoping the current period of relative calm develops into a more lasting stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.