Iran, Israel pledge to end attacks that threatened talks

Iran and Israel pledged to ease attacks after a flare-up threatened to derail peace talks, with both sides signaling restraint as diplomacy edges forward. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would hold its fire for now but would respond if Tehran attacked again, while Iran warned that further Israeli actions in Lebanon could trigger harsher responses. The pledges followed a phone discussion between President Trump and Netanyahu, as U.S. officials emphasized de-escalation. Oil markets reacted modestly higher, with Brent crude near $94 a barrel. The episode underscores the fragility of the pause and the daunting task of converting rhetoric into durable tranquility amid regional proxies and competing interests.