On June 1, local time, Trump responded to a question about the timeline for the Iran peace MOU, saying, "I will be able to talk about that issue within the next week." He acknowledged that "there are still some issues to resolve" but added, "We are getting the things we need."
The MOU's main points reportedly include extending the current ceasefire by 60 days and fully permitting civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The focus is on restoring maritime transport, which has been diminished since the war, and alleviating instability in the energy market.
A key issue in the agreement is Iran's nuclear program. Trump demands that Iran refrain from acquiring nuclear weapons and that the U.S. lead efforts to excavate and remove highly enriched uranium (HEU) buried in Iran. This condition is difficult for Iran to concede, as it directly relates to the future of its nuclear program.
Iran Pushes Back Against Lebanon Offensive... Trump Cautions Netanyahu
The variable arose outside the negotiation table. Iran has pressured the U.S. by raising the issue of ceasefire violations in light of Israel's expanded operations in southern Lebanon. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated, "Violating the ceasefire on a single front means violating it on all fronts," asserting that the U.S. bears direct responsibility. Iranian media reported that Iran has halted message exchanges with the U.S. regarding the peace agreement due to this issue.
In response, Trump took immediate action. He communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via Truth Social and also reached out to top representatives from Hezbollah. Trump stated, "Israel will not attack Hezbollah, and Hezbollah will not attack Israel."
During this process, he reportedly issued a strong warning to Netanyahu. Axios reported that Trump used "strong language" during the call to express his dissatisfaction with the escalation of the Lebanon offensive. The outlet noted that Trump aimed to prevent Netanyahu's plans for an attack on Beirut to maintain progress in negotiations with Iran.
Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that following Trump's announcement, the Israeli military postponed airstrikes on Beirut at the request of the U.S. Subsequently, the Lebanese embassy in Washington stated that Hezbollah agreed to a mutual cessation of attacks mediated by the U.S. The initial measures involve Israel halting airstrikes on southern Beirut while Hezbollah ceases attacks on Israel.
Lebanon Ceasefire Remains Partial... Nuclear Issue Persists
However, not all fronts have come to a halt. Reuters reported that "this action is closer to a partial ceasefire, and clashes and Israeli military operations continue in southern Lebanon." Netanyahu also stated during his call with Trump that if Hezbollah does not stop its attacks on Israeli cities and citizens, he would target terrorist sites in Beirut. He added that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon would proceed as planned.
The attack on U.S. military bases in Kuwait has also increased the pressure on negotiations. The U.S. Central Command reported that two Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted, targeting U.S. forces stationed in Kuwait. While there were no U.S. casualties, it confirmed that U.S. facilities could be targeted even during a ceasefire.
Trump has drawn a line regarding the expansion of military responses. In an NBC interview, he stated, "Even if talks with Iran break down, it doesn't mean we start dropping bombs there," adding, "A peace agreement with Iran could be better than a military victory."
Trump emphasized that discussions with Iran are progressing rapidly. However, should the Lebanon front destabilize again, it could impact the ongoing discussions regarding the peace MOU. While the possibility of an agreement within a week remains open, the nuclear issue and management of the Lebanon front are critical factors that will determine the outcome.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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