Lebanese President Michel Aoun wants talks with Israel on maritime borders to succeed and that the differences in the latest round of negotiations can be resolved based on international law.

His remarks came at a meeting with the American mediator John Desrocher, Reuters reported.

The fourth round of talks, which was due to take place on Wednesday, has been postponed until further notice, officials from the two countries said.

Israel and Lebanon claim about 860 square kilometers of the Mediterranean Sea. During the second round of talks, a Lebanese delegation of army officers and experts proposed a new map that would increase the area by 1,430 square kilometers.

Israeli energy minister Yuval Steinitz said last week that the Lebanese have presented positions that are provocative, but added that all talks begin with excessive demands and provocations.

Aoun said the difficulties encountered during the last round could be resolved through discussions based on the law of the sea. He noted that if the negotiations reach a dead end, other alternatives may be put forward.

The last round of talks took place in November and was hosted by the UN at the border post between the two countries.