U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Hezbollah in a statement Sunday of trying to plunge Lebanon “back into chaos.”

Mr. Rubio denounced what he called Hezbollah’s “reckless call to overthrow Lebanon’s democratically elected government” and said the pro-Iran armed group was “actively trying to drag Lebanon back into chaos and destruction.”

Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, said earlier that “the people have the right to go down onto the streets and to bring down the government” in response to Israeli strikes and US sanctions on the Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial institution.

-AFP

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met with chief of Defence Forces of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Tehran, Iran, on May 23, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Iranian Parliament Speaker Office/WANA via Reuters

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday (May 24, 2026) that he hoped Pakistan could soon host the next round of peace talks between Iran and the United States. “Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon,” Mr. Sharif, whose country has played a key role in mediating between Washington and Tehran, posted on X.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday (May 23, 2026) a deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” with the proposal including opening the crucial Strait of Hormuz, though the agreement was “subject to finalisation.” Among the West Asia countries whose leaders joined a call on Saturday (May 23, 2026) to discuss the deal were Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, Mr. Trump said. He added that he had a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it “likewise went very well.”

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had warned earlier that Washington would face a tough response if it resumed hostilities, after U.S. media reports raised the prospect of new strikes and Iranian officials accused the U.S. side of making “excessive demands.

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