A second phone call between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump is being discussed for later this week, according to sources in Washington, as part of a broader U.S. effort to steer Lebanon toward a potential path to peace.

The expected call would follow an initial conversation between the two leaders on April 16, which sources cited by Nidaa al-Watan said marked a turning point in Lebanon’s standing in Washington. Rather than a routine diplomatic exchange, the contact is being viewed as the start of a deliberate U.S. push to “decouple” Lebanon’s trajectory from Iranian influence.

The diplomatic momentum comes four days into a temporary ceasefire in the Lebanon conflict, also announced on April 16 by Washington. The fragile truce has highlighted competing dynamics: one pointing toward negotiations that could yield a lasting settlement, and another raising the risk of renewed fighting.

Observers say the vast majority of Lebanese favor a negotiated outcome that would pull the country out of decades of war and instability. In contrast, a smaller camp led by Hezbollah is seen by critics as remaining aligned with Iran, fueling concerns of further escalation.

According to Nidaa al-Watan, both domestic and international indicators suggest that talks are steadily moving toward broader objectives—beginning with a permanent ceasefire and potentially culminating in a comprehensive peace agreement. Such a deal could lay the groundwork for recovery in southern Lebanon, an area heavily damaged in the latest round of fighting.

Diplomatic activity is also picking up ahead of a possible Lebanese-Israeli meeting in Washington later this week. The talks are expected to proceed without the participation of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, who has returned to Beirut, and it remains unclear whether U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend in person.

Lebanon is expected to push to solidify the ceasefire, while discussions may also focus on advancing negotiations, setting a framework for future talks, and determining their format and venue. President Aoun’s contacts with U.S. officials have centered on preserving and potentially extending the truce, underscoring Beirut’s decision to pursue a negotiated resolution.

In parallel, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is scheduled to travel to Luxembourg at the invitation of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to meet European Union foreign ministers, before heading to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Meanwhile, opposition to the current political direction continues to surface. Hezbollah and its allies have stepped up criticism of Aoun, with Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan joining what has been described as a campaign of accusations. In remarks seen as directed at the president, Qabalan warned that “Lebanon cannot bear the presence of a new Napoleon,” suggesting that any such political gamble would meet a similar fate.

Criticism has also extended beyond Lebanon. Iran’s Tasnim News Agency published a cartoon depicting Aoun as a ball between Israel and the United States, alongside a fighter dressed in yellow—symbolizing Hezbollah—protecting the Lebanese flag.

Taken together, the developments highlight the delicate juncture Lebanon faces—caught between a potential diplomatic breakthrough and the risk of renewed confrontation, as internal divisions and regional rivalries continue to shape its path forward.