CAIRO (AP) 鈥� Pakistan鈥檚 interior minister was in Tehran on Sunday in a fresh bid to restart negotiations between Iran and the U.S., as the American military said it shot down two more Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz that threatened international maritime traffic.
The latest action came as the U.S. administration to to end the war in the Middle East, which has strained the global economy and in some of the world鈥檚 most vulnerable countries.
The heaviest fighting ended with a preliminary ceasefire on April 8, but the sides have not been able to agree on a long-term end to the war.
Fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah continued, meanwhile, despite last week’s announcement that a U.S.-brokered ceasefire had been extended.
Pakistani senior official in Iran
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is in Tehran to deliver a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was named the Islamic Republic鈥檚 ruler after his father was killed on the first day of the war on Feb. 28 when the U.S. and Israel lauched a bombardment campaign against Iran.
Naqvi met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni late Saturday, and held talks Sunday morning with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to official Iranian media.
There were no details on the contents of the message. Pakistani authorities have said Islamabad, with support from regional countries including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, has been working to help bridge differences between the United States and Iran and encourage efforts aimed at reducing tensions and ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Fire continues between Israel and Hezbollah
Meanwhile, the new ceasefire in Lebanon, which was announced during between Israel and Lebanon in Washington last week, did not appear to be holding.
The Iranian-backed has rejected the U.S.-brokered deal and instead endorsed Iran鈥檚 demand that ending the war in Lebanon be part of the negotiations with the U.S.
Israel struck what it said were over 150 Hezbollah military sites over the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centers, across southern Lebanon.
Early Sunday, Israel identified at least five projectiles launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel, which were intercepted or fell in open areas. Hezbollah did not immediately claim to have fired projectiles at Israel. However, the militant group acknowledged it attacked Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the Israeli military said.
The fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized in its latest ground invasion, threatens efforts to end the and reopen the , a key transit point for oil and gas. Its closure has .
Iran has demanded that any lasting truce extend to Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister , who faces elections later this year, wants to press ahead with Israel鈥檚 offensive until he considers Hezbollah no longer poses a threat.
Lebanon鈥檚 army commander, Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, headed to Pakistan Saturday at the invitation of Pakistan鈥檚 army chief. The Lebanese army gave no further details and did not say whether it is related to Pakistan鈥檚 mediation between Iran and the U.S.
Iran says it targeted US air base and Navy
The U.S. military said Saturday that it had shot down several Iranian missiles and drones launched toward and Gulf Arab allies, and struck some of the Islamic Republic鈥檚 coastal surveillance radar sites in response.
鈥淭he attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,鈥� U.S. Central Command said.
Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts U.S. forces in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy鈥檚 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
The U.S. military said there were no reports of harm to U.S. personnel.
Earlier in the month, Iranian drones heavily at Kuwait鈥檚 main airport, killing one person and wounding dozens.
The U.S. military has kept up its blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran鈥檚 grip on the strait, a crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments.
Energy prices have spiked, for U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 Republican Party ahead of midterm congressional elections in November.
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Chehayeb reported from Beirut and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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