Iran and US Close to Deal as Israel Pounds Lebanon with Massive Strikes
U.S. and Iran are on the verge of signing an agreement to end their war, even as Israel continues massive airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing thousands and threatening a fragile ceasefire.
The United States and Iran are close to finalizing a deal to end hostilities, with three regional officials confirming to the Associated Press that an agreement is imminent [171747]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted that a deal “has never been closer” [171747]. The tentative agreement includes terms for removing nuclear material from Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas shipments, and lifting sanctions on Tehran [171747].
Despite these diplomatic breakthroughs, Israel launched massive and unprecedented bombings on the southern Lebanese cities of Marjayoun and Nabatieh [171735]. Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa reported that Israel has bombed the country nearly 3,500 times since April 16, with 3,526 people killed in Lebanon since then [168642]. The Israeli military ordered the full evacuation of Tyre and struck the city as truce talks stalled [169045].
The cycle of violence escalated after Israel bombed Beirut suburbs, prompting Iran to fire ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time since April [168642]. Israel then struck targets in Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz [168642]. President Donald Trump publicly ordered both sides to stop “shooting” immediately, and Iran and Israel agreed to halt hostilities on Monday morning [168642].
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was not a party to the U.S.-Iran deal and warned that Israel could still act independently toward Iran [171747]. Iran insists any agreement must include an end to fighting in Lebanon between its ally Hezbollah and Israel [171747]. Analyst Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute warned that “a deal with Washington has little value if the US cannot—or will not—stop Israeli actions” [168642].
The conflict, launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28, has rattled the Middle East and nearly shut down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf [171747]. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies and driven up fuel prices worldwide [171747].