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Beyond Mediation: How Washington Is Recasting Lebanon–Israel Negotiations

Jeremy Brecher 22/04 21:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

United States Lebanon Israel Negotiations Trump

The U.S. is set to mediate a second round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials on Thursday as part of the first such series of direct negotiations between the two sides since 1993. These diplomatic engagements come nearly a year and a half after the previous Lebanon-Israel ceasefire framework. In November 2024 under the Biden ...

Iran Says Won't Reopen Hormuz as Long as U.S. Blockade Remains

This is Beirut 23/04 08:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Lebanon Amal Gulf

Iran's vow not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz -- so long as a U.S. naval blockade remained in place -- was held into Thursday despite a ceasefire extension, as the Gulf nation announced the seizure of two ships trying to cross the strategic waterway. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said late Wednesday that it had also "directed 31 vessels ...

Iran Says 'No Decision' on Whether to Attend Next Round of U.S. Talks

This is Beirut 20/04 09:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Middle East

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday it has yet to reach a decision on whether to attend the next round of talks with the United States. "As of now, while I am at your service, we have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press ...

From War To Business Suits: What Peace with Israel Could Mean for Lebanon's Economy

Ralph Atrach 17/04 23:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Nawaf Salam Gulf Hezbollah

As Lebanese and Israeli officials met face to face in Washington for the first time in decades, the war with Hezbollah dominated headlines, but the prospect of future economic ties between Jerusalem and Beirut came into view. Following the meeting, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter brought up the potential windfalls of peace. “The ...

U.S. Says Ball in Iran's Court as Push Grows to End War

This is Beirut 14/04 12:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Gulf New York

The United States said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the Mideast war, as diplomats accelerated efforts on Tuesday towards a new round of peace talks after weekend negotiations failed to produce a deal. US Vice President JD Vance had left talks hosted by Pakistan on Sunday, saying he had handed Tehran the "final and best offer".Iran ...

A State Decides: Lebanon's Bet on Direct Talks with Israel

Amal Chmouny 20/04 13:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Donald Trump Lebanese Army Hezbollah

For the first time in decades, the U.S. has brokered direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, beginning with a 10-day cessation of hostilities and a commitment to negotiate in good faith. Washington says lasting calm will require the Lebanese state to reassert sovereignty over non-state arms. President Donald Trump said the initiative had created ...

Gulf States in Limbo as US-Iran Crisis Drags On

This is Beirut 24/04 21:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gulf USA Bahrain Donald Trump International Monetary Fund

After weathering unprecedented attacks from Iran, the wealthy Gulf states are now stuck between war and peace as talks stall and the vital Strait of Hormuz remains all but closed—threatening economic recovery. Iran has hit Gulf energy exports with its Strait of Hormuz blockade, while its attacks have caused damage to energy infrastructure ...

U.S., Iran Warn Ready for War as Talks in Limbo

This is Beirut 21/04 07:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump UN Security Council Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

The United States and Iran each warned they were ready for war as the clock ticked down Tuesday on a ceasefire, with uncertainty on talks that President Donald Trump had announced would resume in Pakistan. The White House said Vice President JD Vance was ready to fly back to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, which was preparing for a second round ...

Lebanon Has Another Opportunity of a Lifetime

David Hale 20/04 10:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Lebanese Army Donald Trump Hezbollah Israel

As Lebanese, Israeli, and American teams prepare for their first-ever trilateral leaders summit, it is time to reflect on this opportunity and lessons from the past.   Most Lebanese have yearned for decades for a restoration of state sovereignty and peace. There are a host of reasons why they have been deprived of what most people around the ...

Iran Says Final Deal Still Far Off as Hormuz Strait Shuttered

This is Beirut 19/04 08:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Gulf Hezbollah Israel

The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan that failed to reach a deal, Iran said ...

Six Decades Without the State: Southern Lebanon’s Long Shadow of Militias

Marwan El-Amine 24/04 16:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon South Lebanon Amal Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah

For nearly 60 years, the Shia of southern Lebanon have known only the rule of militias. This reality dates to 1969, when the Lebanese state ceded part of its sovereignty to Palestinian armed groups, allowing them to launch attacks against Israel. Since then, the region has fallen under a succession of armed actors, culminating in the firm ...

Lebanese President Says Aiming to End Hostilities With Israel Talks

This is Beirut 21/04 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Nawaf Salam Donald Trump UN Security Council USA

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end hostilities and the occupation in southern Lebanon, even as Hezbollah and its supporters rejected the negotiations. Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has sharply criticised the Lebanese government's negotiations with Israel, which are set to enter a second ...

When Aoun Meets Netanyahu

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 21/04 14:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanese Army Palestine Lebanon Banks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in the coming weeks, according to President Trump, who said he would invite both leaders. However, Aoun appears poised to follow a political path that will be rejected by Israel. Lebanon has vilified Israel for so long that a Lebanese ...

Iran Sacrifices Lebanon on the Altar of Its Own Interests

Marwan El Amine 11/04 22:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Hezbollah Israel

The U.S. and Israel have entered a two-week ceasefire, an arrangement that paves the way for negotiations aimed at resolving a wide range of complex and contentious issues. Yet Lebanon, despite Iran’s rhetoric, appears to remain a marginal concern in the talks for Tehran, which has shown little care for the suffering of Lebanese Shia. Despite ...

Will Lebanon Repeal Its Law Criminalizing Contact With Israel?

Kaline Antoun 24/04 20:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Donald Trump Washington White House

As Lebanese and Israeli officials conclude their second round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington, a contradiction is becoming harder for Beirut to ignore. The state is now negotiating with Israel, while its citizens can still face prosecution for far less. Following Thursday’s meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys at the White House, ...

U.S. Vice President JD Vance: ‘We Were Unable to Reach an Agreement’ With Iran

This is Beirut 12/04 06:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf United States

On Sunday morning, U.S. Vice President JD Vance held a press conference following 21 hours of negotiations with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, announcing that “we were unable to reach an agreement.” He emphasized that “Iran decided not to accept our terms” as U.S. negotiators sought to adhere to the agenda and demands it set ...

Can Lebanon's Military Court Break Free of Hezbollah's Shadow?

Kaline Antoun 02/04 09:45 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Lebanese Army Israel Joseph Aoun

Lebanon’s Military Court has drawn scrutiny for its handling of detainees linked to Hezbollah, reigniting long-standing criticism over its politicization and expansive legal authority. On March 9, the Military Court controversially ordered the release of three individuals arrested by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on charges of illegally ...

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Blames U.S. Blockade

This is Beirut 18/04 10:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran USA Israel Lebanon USIranWar Negotiations

Iran on Saturday closed the Strait of Hormuz again after briefly reopening it, saying the move is a response to the ongoing US naval blockade. Tehran accused Washington of breaking its commitments and warned that traffic through the strait will remain restricted until the blockade is lifted. The potential for the resumption of transit had lifted ...

Iran Claims Aluminium Plant Attacks in Gulf as Houthis Join War

This is Beirut 29/03 09:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Gulf Donald Trump USA Nawaf Salam Lebanon

Iran claimed on Sunday attacks on two major aluminium plants in the Gulf, further raising the economic stakes of the Middle East war after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis joined the conflict. The war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks on Iran has mushroomed throughout the region, sending world energy markets into a tailspin and ...

Trump Says Deal Is Days Away, Iran Accuses Him of ‘Lies’

This is Beirut 18/04 13:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ceasefire Gulf Hamas Hezbollah Iran USA Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump said that a deal with Iran could be reached “within days” and that negotiations have “no sticking points,” while Iranian officials on Saturday rejected his claims and said key issues remain unresolved. Trump said talks with Iran could resume as early as this weekend, possibly in Islamabad, and ...

Vance Arrives in Pakistan for Iran Talks

This is Beirut 11/04 12:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Lebanon Gulf Israel

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with Iran that the Pakistani premier hosting the warring sides called a "make or break" effort to permanently halt weeks of fighting in the Middle East. An Iranian delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is also in the city, having arrived ...

Hezbollah MP Says Group Will Break Israel's 'Yellow Line' in South Lebanon

This is Beirut 20/04 19:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Ceasefire United States

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Monday that his group would work to break the "Yellow Line" that Israel established in southern Lebanon, adding that no one could disarm the Iran-backed group. Still, he also maintained that his group wanted to see the current ceasefire last, even as he slammed Lebanese efforts to engage Israel ...

Oil Extends Gains, Stocks Sink as Peace talk Hopes Fade

This is Beirut 24/04 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

Oil prices extended gains Friday, and stocks struggled as investors worried about a lack of progress in ending the Middle East crisis, with Tehran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports. A week that started with hopes the two sides would eventually hold peace talks was set to end on a negative note, ...

Lebanon Says Israel Talks Set for Tuesday in U.S.

This is Beirut 11/04 01:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Nawaf Salam Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

Lebanon's presidency said Friday that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the start of negotiations between the neighbours. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle ...

Lebanon’s Paralysis, Hezbollah’s Impunity, and a War Without Exit

Amal Chmouny 27/03 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Lebanese Army Israel

Hopes for a swift end to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon have all but faded, as Jerusalem signals it is preparing to establish a buffer zone up to the Litani River until Hezbollah is no longer a threat. At the same time, U.S. policymakers privately acknowledge that de-escalation is not possible without a fundamental shift within Lebanon ...

PM Salam: Lebanon Trapped in a War It Did Not Choose, Reasserts State Authority

This is Beirut 02/04 15:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Iran War USA

Lebanon’s government moved to reassert its authority in a cabinet meeting on Thursday, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned that the country is being dragged into a war it neither chose nor controls amid growing concerns over the role Hezbollah is playing to escalate the conflict. Speaking after a cabinet session at the Grand Serail, Salam ...

What Went Wrong for the Shia

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 15/04 10:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Gulf Hezbollah Israel Turkey

The Shia have a problem. While many Sunni-majority states, from the Gulf states to Turkey, have achieved varying degrees of governance success and economic growth, Shia-led political projects have little to show for themselves. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, they have been at the center of wars, terrorist networks, and state failure even as ...