Journalist Muhammad Shuqair wrote: American pressure is increasing on Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This was represented in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Beirut in which it said that holding a direct meeting between them, under the auspices of US President Donald Trump, “may constitute an opportunity for Lebanon,” amid Aoun’s refusal to meet with Netanyahu. The statement was discussed between Aoun and the US Ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, during which the Lebanese President affirmed his insistence on establishing the ceasefire and stopping Israel’s targeting of civilians, before completing the meetings between the representatives of Lebanon and Israel in Washington. For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that “there is no point in negotiating under fire,” and said that “the so-called truce allowed Israel to continue its aggression and commit massacres in an unprecedented manner, without Washington’s intervention to force it to stop hostilities.” In addition, informed sources in Beirut revealed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed the “Shiite duo” that negotiations with America are progressing, expecting a breakthrough within days. Araqchi also confirmed that Iran is dealing with the Lebanon file as it deals with the direct files that concern it.