The new U.S.-brokered memorandum of understanding between Israel and Lebanon has the weaknesses of its predecessors. The post How Lebanon Continues to Confound the U.S. appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs How Lebanon Continues to Confound the U.S. The new U.S.-brokered memorandum of understanding between Israel and Lebanon has the weaknesses of its predecessors. The recent memorandum of understanding between Israel and Lebanon is not the first time the U.S. has placed itself at the center of Lebanese affairs. Serial interventions, both military and diplomatic, have been undertaken by Democrats and Republicans alike in Washington over close to a century. These efforts attest to Lebanon’s outsized ability to engage Washington at the highest level, and highlight the at best limited, short-term effectiveness of that…Open
State of the Union: While American sources told media the negotiations were on, Iranian sources said nothing is yet on the books. The post Iran Negotiations Day 12: Status of U.S.–Iran Talks Unclear appeared first on The American Conservative .
Continued negotiations between the United States and Iran appeared to be in limbo Monday as the memorandum of understanding–stipulated ceasefire period entered its 12th day. President Donald Trump on Monday morning posted to Truth Social that “IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Anonymous officials told various outlets[LINK(S)] Monday that the U.S. would “stand down” and halt attacks on Iran to allow for negotiations to continue. The White House said Monday that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would travel to Doha. Nevertheless, there have not yet been any official confirmations from the U.S., Iran, or Qatar that talks will occur. An U.S. official told the Financial Times that “technical…Open
State of the Union: U.S. Central Command denied Tehran’s claims. The post Ceasefire Day 59: Iran Says ‘Warning Missiles’ Fired at U.S. Ships appeared first on The American Conservative .
Tehran said it fired “warning missiles” and drones at U.S. navy vessels in the Gulf of Oman on Friday, on the 59th day of the tenuous ceasefire to the Iran War. U.S. Central Command called reports that Iranian forces attacked or fired at U.S. Navy warships “false,” adding that “doing so would be a gross violation of the ceasefire.” Iran’s Quds Force and IRGC military apparatus issued separate statements Thursday tying the end of the Iran War to a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Iran has said that it would suspend indirect peace negotiations with the U.S. over the issue. In an interview with CNN Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Iran for conditioning an end to the Iran War on the cessation of…Open
President Trump on Monday pulled the brakes on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to bomb Hezbollah targets in Beirut after Iran threatened to abandon its negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon. - An Israeli official told Axios the planned strikes on Beirut would not be happening. Why it matters: Trump's decision to rein in Netanyahu was a clear signal that he doesn't want his key ally to get in the way of a deal with Iran . - Trump claimed on Monday after his call with Netanyahu that the Iran negotiations "are continuing, at a rapid pace." Driving the news: On Monday, Netanyahu issued a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz threatening to bomb Hezbollah targets in the Dahieh District of…
The speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri, told the Trump administration on Sunday that Hezbollah is ready for a full and immediate ceasefire with Israel and pledged to guarantee its implementation, Berri's top adviser Ali Hamdan told Axios. Why it matters: The fighting in Lebanon is escalating and threatening to derail the chances of a deal to end the war in Iran, particularly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now threatening to strike Beirut. - Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday that Iran's negotiating team was suspending its exchange of messages with the U.S., through the mediators, in protest of Israel's actions in Lebanon. Zoom in: Berri is one of the most powerful Shia politicians in…
The latest U.S. push for a ceasefire in Lebanon has fizzled just as Israel is expanding its ground invasion and seeking a U.S. green light to conduct massive strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The U.S. has urged Israel against striking Beirut for several weeks as part of a broader deescalation push, but a U.S. official hinted that position could soften. "The U.S. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization," the official told Axios. The big picture: The Trump administration's deescalation effort in Lebanon has been partially motivated by its desire to reach a deal with Iran. - The memorandum of understanding the U.S. and Iran are negotiating …