English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For June 24/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 01/57-66: “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Titles For Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 23-24 June/2026
The Sin, Ignorance, and Subservience of Equating the Jihadi Iranian Occupier & The Terrorist Hezbollah with the Saving-Liberating Israeli Army/Elias Bejjani/June 22/2026
Elias Bejjani/ English Verbatim Text: The Sin, Ignorance, and Subservience of Equating the Jihadi Iranian Occupier and Its Terrorist Party with the Liberating and Saving Israeli Army/Elias Bejjani/June 22, 2026
Israeli Ambassador to Washington: Including Iran in Lebanon Negotiations Would Be a Disaster
The Lebanese-Israeli negotiations began with a joint session, followed by a military session, and will conclude with a political round.
Vance, Rubio discuss with Aoun formation of joint 'US-Lebanese-Iranian cell'
Rubio says US dealing with Lebanon's 'sovereign elected government'
Lebanon president rejects Israeli occupation, foreign interference
Israeli envoy to US says Hezbollah feels emboldened
Israel Fire Kills Two in Lebanon, Testing Iran-Linked Ceasefire
Berri suggests return to 2024 ceasefire mechanism in talks with Macron
Macron Seeks New Int’l Force for South Lebanon After UNIFIL Mandate Ends
Syria: Avoiding the Trap of Intervention in Lebanon/Fayez Sara/Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Qassem demands full Israeli withdrawal 'according to a timetable'
Vance tells Geagea US pressuring Iran to ensure Hezbollah disarms
Israel says soldiers struck 'terrorist cell' in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah decries 'blatant' truce violation after Israeli fire in Lebanon
Diplomat says any attacks on Lebanon a 'red line' for Iran
LACC Statement on the Developments in Lebanon
Hezbollah’s Ongoing Effort to Build Up Its Drone Force: Training Drone Operators and Establishing Logistical Infrastructure
Paying off Iran has never worked/Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/June 23/2026
The Story of the Crosses on the Peaks of Lebanon's Mountains!/George Hayek / June 23, 2026
Gaddafi, Jumblatt, and Abu Nidal in a Boat… The Relationship with the Soviets/Samir Attallah/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 23, 2026
On “Experimental Zones”/Hanna Saleh/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 23, 2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 23-24 June/2026
Netanyahu's speech and three very important interventions on global politics, held in Israel on June 21, 2026
Netanyahu says Israel should ‘break free’ of US military aid
Netanyahu Affirms: Our War with Iran and its Proxies Is Not Over
Trump: Iran's money will be disbursed on American terms... and Hormuz is witnessing a record flow of oil... He confirmed that he agreed to completely lift the naval blockade on Iran
Trump: If Iran wants trouble, let it pursue nuclear weapons
Trump says Iran agreed to nuclear inspections, Tehran denies US claims
Iran will be ‘only country’ to determine how to use unfrozen assets: Ambassador
Iran says UN watchdog will not be allowed to inspect bombed nuclear sites
Oman and Iran to pursue talks on managing navigation in Strait of Hormuz
Shahbaz Sharif: We Will Continue Our Efforts Until Lasting Peace is Achieved in the Region
UN maritime body says to begin evacuating sailors in Gulf
Tehran Gets Three-Day Holiday for Ali Khamenei Funeral
Rubio Says US Will Not Accept Iranian Tolls on Hormuz
Without its missiles, Iran would be ‘just like Gaza,’ president says
Denmark to join mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
UN Resolution Urges Accountability for Attacks on Peacekeepers
Denmark Reopens Embassy in Tehran
Lavrov Says Russia Ready to Resume Talks with Ukraine from Point Where They Left Off
Russia strikes kill nine in Ukraine
Egypt-Syria Meetings Give Rapprochement New Momentum

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 23-24 June/2026
What Comes After the U.S.–Iranian Negotiations?/Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 23/2026
US-Iran talks show promise, but the hardest part lies ahead/Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/23 June ,2026
Who Will Fail the Other: Trump or Netanyahu?/Abdul Wahab Badrakhan/Al-Watan/June 23, 2026
Iran, Like Hamas, Has No Intention of Fulfilling Trump's Peace Demands/Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute./June 23, 2026
Beirut: The Main Arena of Conflict with Iran/Nadim Koteich/Asas Media/June 23/2023
Selected Face Book & X tweets on 23 June/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on 23-24 June/2026
The Sin, Ignorance, and Subservience of Equating the Jihadi Iranian Occupier & The Terrorist Hezbollah with the Saving-Liberating Israeli Army
Elias Bejjani/June 22/2026
A statement was recently issued by so-called "national figures and civil society groups," filled with the same old clichés that have brought nothing but ruin to Lebanon. At a time when the nation is passing through a historic crossroads that determines its very existence, the authors of this statement fell into the trap of "malicious equality" and hollow, repetitive language. They demonstrated the height of subservience, ignorance, and political cowardice by placing Israel, Iran, and its Hezbollah militias on the same level of responsibility for Lebanon’s destruction.
This desperate attempt to equate a jihadi, colonial Iranian project—which has devoured the Lebanese state and swallowed its sovereignty—with the State of Israel, whose existential interests today align 100% with Lebanon's independence and sovereignty, is a blatant distortion of reality and history.
1. The Shared Fate and Lebanese-Israeli Mutual Interest
Hezbollah is not a Lebanese party; it is merely a military brigade in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). For decades, this Jihadi Armed Iranian Army has posed a direct existential threat to the Jews and their state, while simultaneously serving as the primary tool to suffocate Lebanon. This is exactly where Lebanon's supreme interest meets what Israel is doing today: uprooting this military cancer is the only way to revive the Lebanese Republic.
Iran and its local army (Hezbollah) completely occupy Lebanon. They did not leave a single inch of its land without turning it into tunnels, weapons depots, and gunpowder stores, hijacking the decision of peace and war, and turning the state into a lifeless skeleton. The Israeli military action to dismantle this terrorist infrastructure is not an aggression against Lebanon, but rather an "existential service" that opens the door to cleansing the land and restoring stolen national decision-making.
2. The Tragedy of the Hijacked Shiites Community
The greatest sin of the Iranian occupation was not just hijacking the Lebanese state, but also hijacking the honorable Lebanese Shiites community and turning it into fuel for the "Wilayat al-Faqih" project. This criminal Iranian plot has caused the killing of thousands of Shiites, impoverished them, destroyed their areas and villages, and ultimately turned them into a devastated and displaced community. The Terrorist Hezbollah dragged them into absurd wars in which they had no stake, simply to serve Tehran's imperial illusions. How do the authors of the statement dare to equate those who turned the homes of the Lebanese into rocket storehouses with those who seek to get rid of this threat?
3. Historical Facts: Israel's Wars Are Reactions
The historical ignorance in the statement ignores a fact as clear as day: all of Israel’s wars on Lebanon since its establishment as a state were legitimate "reactions" to protect its security against threats and wars launched from Lebanese territory.
For decades, Israel endured attacks launched by Palestinian organizations, leftist gangs, Arab nationalist factions, Nasserists, groups funded by Gaddafi, and eventually Sunni and Shiites political Islam sponsored by Iran and Syria. Israel was never the initiator of aggression; it was always defending itself against the chaos of both Lebanese and foreign weapons.
4. No Land Ambitions: History Bears Witness
Israel has proven in words and actions throughout history that it has no ambitions for a single inch of Lebanese land. In the year 2000, Israel withdrew completely from South Lebanon to the international borders, leaving behind no colonies or settlers. It has always withdrawn after its military operations ended, as soon as its borders were secured. In the current war, Tel Aviv reaffirmed the same principle: entry is not for occupation, but to eliminate Hezbollah’s infrastructure and ensure the return of northern residents. This time, Israel will not withdraw before completely ending this existential threat, which directly serves the interest of building a real Lebanese state with no illegal weapons sharing its authority.
5. Classifying the Pretenders of Sovereignty
Those who drafted this statement and equated the actual Iranian occupier and its terrorist Hezbollah with Israel, which is uprooting this occupier, can only be classified into one of four categories:
The Ignorant: They do not read history and do not understand geopolitics or the intersection of international interests.
The Coward: They tremble with fear of calling things by their true names, resorting to grey language to protect themselves from the militia's brutality.
The Subservient (Dhimmi): They live with a mindset of historical dependency and submission, ready to accept a masked Iranian occupation under the slogan of "coexistence."
The Opportunist: They sell national sovereignty in political bazaars, looking for personal gains or electoral seats at the expense of the vital truth.
To all those who signed, supported and promoted the shamefull statement: Stop crying with hollow language. Saving Lebanon requires recognizing reality and welcoming the uprooting of those who caused the national disaster, not hiding behind suspicious statements that equate the victim with the executioner, and occupation with liberation.
Moving Toward the State Requires Courage, Not Evasion
Crossing over to a stable homeland and a state that matches the ambitions of the Lebanese people cannot be achieved by hiding behind faded formulas that equate the real killer, who suffocated the country and tore its social fabric, with the surgeon who is removing this malignant tumor. By refusing to acknowledge reality, this statement proves that its signers are still trapped in past psychological complexes and outdated slogans. Saving the Lebanese Republic requires intellectual and political courage to admit the facts as they are: the real threat to Lebanon is Iranian in identity and origin, and saving Lebanon from this nightmare is a Lebanese interest first and foremost, even if it intersects with the interests of others. Evasion and false equality do not build a nation; they only prolong the crisis and legitimize foreign guardianship under new masks.

Elias Bejjani/ English Verbatim Text: The Sin, Ignorance, and Subservience of Equating the Jihadi Iranian Occupier and Its Terrorist Party with the Liberating and Saving Israeli Army
Elias Bejjani/June 22, 2026
Below is the full literal text of the audio commentary, originally delivered in Lebanese spoken dialect:
Introduction: A Statement Drowned in “Subservience” and Hollow Clichés
I am Elias Bejjani, greeting you from “Voice of Phoenicia” in Canada as we share this commentary.
Today, I received a statement titled “A National Statement for Restoring Sovereignty and Independence.” It consists of several clauses demanding the implementation of international resolutions, the preservation of Lebanon’s borders, and the restoration of the state, its sovereignty, and its independence. However, the fundamental problem with this statement lies in its introduction, where it subserviently equates Israel on one side with Iran and Hezbollah on the other.
The authors of the statement admit that Hezbollah is destroying the country and hijacking national decision-making. Yet, at the same time, they claim that Israel is occupying precious parts of Lebanon, killing our people, and destroying our regions, driven by historical ambitions. This reading represents the height of subservience and dependency. A rational human being, gifted by God with the capacity for sound and healthy thinking, must possess the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, enemy and friend, and between the deceiver, the hypocrite, and the truthful. This group who drafted and signed the statement are drowned in subservience and fear. It would have been far better for them not to mention Israel with any condemnation or blame, because Israel is not the one occupying Lebanon today.
Israel’s Wars: Legitimate Reactions Against Terrorism
Israel has never launched an attack on Lebanon without a reason. If we look back at history since the founding of the Hebrew state in the 1940s, we find that all its military operations and wars in Lebanon were reactions to attacks by armed groups and organizations that used Lebanese territory as a launching pad to attack it. These aggressions began with the self-loathing and destructive “rotten Left,” moving through the “Arab nationalist” factions loyal to Gaddafi, Nasser, the Ba’athist Assad regime, or Saddam Hussein. Most dangerous of all were the actions of Palestinian organizations during the days of Yasser Arafat, who turned South Lebanon into “Fatah Land,” forced the ill-fated “Cairo Agreement” upon the Lebanese state, and canceled the armistice agreement. Today, we are living through the exact same result with political Islam in both its Sunni and Shia branches, and specifically with the absolute control of Shia political Islam represented by the Iranian project.
Hezbollah: A Military Brigade in the Iranian Army
We must name things by their true names with courage. Hezbollah is not a Lebanese faction at all; it is a fully-fledged Iranian army operating on Lebanese soil under the command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its goals, origin, funding, and doctrine are entirely Iranian, and it has absolutely nothing to do with resistance, liberation, or Palestine. The Syrian Ba’athist regime created this organization in coordination with the Tehran mullahs during its occupation of Lebanon. This party then liquidated and assassinated everyone who believed they were practicing resistance, including leftists, communists, and others. We remember vividly the bloody battle of “Iqlim al-Tuffah,” which left thousands wounded and around 1,400 dead. This battle resulted in the taming of the “Amal” movement and reduced Nabih Berri to a mere “protocol facade.” They shared shares and state jobs with him, while the Iranians kept the real leadership, the arena, and the decision of war and peace.
The Iranian project is a jihadi, colonial, and destructive project built on eliminating the other. It poses an existential threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence and to all its communities without exception, including the Shias, many of whom reject this approach of the mullahs based on the concepts of “Wilayat al-Faqih”—concepts of illusions, ideological hallucinations, and deadly sectarianism.
The Tragedy of the Hijacked Shia Community
The Shia community in Lebanon suffers the most today due to the Iranian project. Their villages and regions have been completely destroyed, and they are now living as displaced people in schools, tents, streets, and cars, not to mention the theft of their money and life savings. It is a devastated, hijacked community held hostage by Tehran. Today, there is no Shia home or family in Lebanon that does not have an orphan, a widow, a disabled person, or a wounded person because they were dragged into absurd wars in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and many countries around the world. In contrast, Iranian leaders boast that this party has offered more victims and fought for more days than Iran itself. Anyone who thinks that the party has independent Lebanese leaders, like Naim Qassem, Mahmoud Qmati, or the current MPs, is delusional. These are merely commanded and hired mouthpieces who own no decision of their own; the actual orders come directly from Tehran.
The Alignment of Lebanese-Israeli Interests: The Only Opportunity for Salvation
In political and national work, when we want to liberate our country, we must be ready to ally with any side to achieve this goal. Today, fortunately for Lebanon and the Lebanese, Israel’s interest aligns 100% with the interest of the sovereignists and free people in Lebanon. Israel sees Hezbollah as an existential threat to its entity. It is determined not to repeat the scenario of Sinwar and Gaza, and it will not accept the presence of this party on its borders. Any rational Lebanese should welcome this alignment of interests to save the Lebanese Republic. Hezbollah did not leave a single region in Lebanon—whether in Keserwan, Jbeil, Beirut, the Beqaa, or the South—without digging like a mole tunnels and weapons depots beneath schools, mosques, churches, hospitals, and homes, placing the entire country on a barrel of gunpowder. An example of this is what is currently happening on “Ali al-Tahir” hill, where information indicates the existence of an unprecedented network of tunnels in terms of depth and equipment. Who has the ability to dismantle this terrifying arsenal? Can the current Lebanese army do it? Or those youth who signed the statement?
The only army in the world that possesses both the interest and the capacity to uproot this Iranian occupier and end its project is the Israeli army. The Syrian regime is neither capable nor willing, and the Arab countries (from Saudi Arabia to Egypt) do not allow Lebanon to conclude an independent peace agreement. Instead, they want to tie the fate of us Lebanese to their interests, to the myth of the “two-state solution,” and to trading with the Palestinian cause—which is exploited by Arab nationalists, leftists, and cheap resistance merchants to keep Lebanon an open arena and a garbage dump for their conflicts.
Israel Has No Intentions for Our Land
Israel has proven in words and actions throughout history that it has no ambitions in Lebanon. In the year 2000, it withdrew completely to the international borders, leaving behind not a single colony or a single soldier. Today, all Israeli officials—from the Prime Minister to the President and the Minister of Defense—reaffirm that they do not want to occupy Lebanon. They only want to eliminate the threat of Hezbollah and secure their borders, and they will withdraw as soon as this is achieved.
Conclusion: Classifying the Signatories and a Call to Speak the Truth
The figures who signed this rejected statement—even though I share friendships with many of them and publish their articles, and I will not mention their names out of respect (including Paula Yacoubian)—have fallen into a major national failure. Anyone who equates the actual Iranian occupier with Israel at this stage falls inevitably into one of four categories: either ignorant of the Iranian project, a coward who fears the militia’s brutality and resorts to grey language, a subservient person (dhimmi) living with a mindset of submission, or an opportunist selling national sovereignty for a parliamentary seat or seeking financial or political gain. The catastrophic result of these four traits is exactly the same.
To those who wrote, signed, and promoted this statement: if you are unable to speak the truth, silence is better for you. But if you want to speak, you must name things by their true names with courage. The truth is clear, and Hezbollah is not ashamed of its project. Just yesterday, Qmati openly declared his refusal to hand over his party’s weapons and his intention to overturn previous government decisions, returning the country to point zero.ةI am publishing this statement on my website not in support of it, but to highlight its sin and subservience. I want every sovereign Lebanese to learn how to distinguish between the real enemy and the friend, or at least how to benefit from the intersection of interests with the Israeli neighbor, which is performing a mission that serves Lebanon’s freedom and independence.To follow the full commentary in both Arabic and English and read the criticized statement, I invite you to visit my direct website: eliasbejjaninews.com And subscribe to my official channels and pages on WhatsApp, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Long live Lebanon, free, sovereign, and independent.

Israeli Ambassador to Washington: Including Iran in Lebanon Negotiations Would Be a Disaster
Al-Markazia/June 23, 2026
Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Yehiel Leiter, stated that including Iran in the negotiations concerning Lebanon would lead to a "certain disaster." Israeli media quoted Leiter as saying that the fifth round of talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington is now threatened with collapse, describing its trajectory as a disaster, using the phrase "a train heading for a derailment," due to what he considered a decline in focus on the issue of disarming Hezbollah and removing Iranian influence from Lebanon. According to the newspaper Yediot Aharonot, Leiter said that previous rounds were based on a clear premise: "removing Iran from Lebanon and dismantling Hezbollah." He questioned whether this principle still forms the basis of the US-led negotiations. He added that Israel does not see itself in conflict with Lebanon, but rather considers "Hezbollah" to be the "only problem." Israeli Channel 12 quoted Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yehiel Leiter, as saying during the opening session of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, "Four rounds ago, we were all on the same train, when it was headed towards a clear destination: complete peace between the two countries, the removal of Iran, the dismantling of Hezbollah, and the achievement of peace and security for Lebanon and Israel. Today, however, this train is in danger of derailing. There is a risk that Hezbollah has received a boost of encouragement; there is no doubt that it feels stronger and more emboldened."

The Lebanese-Israeli negotiations began with a joint session, followed by a military session, and will conclude with a political round.
Al-Markazia/June 23, 2026
The Lebanese and Israeli delegations arrived at the US State Department to participate in the new round of direct negotiations between them, which began at 4:00 PM Beirut time under Washington's auspices. Sources in Baabda indicated that Ambassador Simon Karam, head of the Lebanese delegation, was instructed to implement clear and strict practical arrangements to conclude the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations with practical solutions that can be applied militarily and in terms of security in Lebanon. Sources confirmed that Lebanon has not yet received any details regarding the implementation mechanism for the ceasefire. A US official stated that the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations began with a joint session, followed by a military session, and are scheduled to conclude with a political round. He clarified that the lists of participants in both the military and political tracks will remain unchanged, noting that the shared objective is to definitively end the cycle of violence between Lebanon and Israel. He added that the United States is working to enable Lebanon and Israel to negotiate as sovereign states, emphasizing that the talks will continue with the aim of advancing a comprehensive agreement that establishes peace and security between the two sides.

Vance, Rubio discuss with Aoun formation of joint 'US-Lebanese-Iranian cell'
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
President Joseph Aoun received a phone call Tuesday afternoon from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they discussed the latest developments related to the situation in Lebanon and the period following the Switzerland meetings, the Presidency said. Vance and Rubio "affirmed the United States' support for the positions of the President and the Lebanese government in their efforts to extend the legitimate authority of the state and strengthen its national sovereignty over all its territory through its army and security forces alone, enabling it to fulfill its commitments in this regard," the Presidency said. They also emphasized the United States' "continued commitment to implementing the agreements reached in Switzerland, including the formation of a joint U.S.-Lebanese-Iranian cell to solidify the ceasefire in Lebanon and monitor the implementation of related measures.""They noted that the arrangements concerning the cell's operation and its formation are currently under review," the Presidency said. Aoun for his part thanked the senior U.S. officials for "the attention the United States is giving to Lebanon with the aim of ending the war and strengthening the authority of the Lebanese state and its independent decision-making," noting that the state is "solely responsible for preserving national sovereignty, the dignity of the Lebanese people, and their safety."

Rubio says US dealing with Lebanon's 'sovereign elected government'
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington will negotiate and deal with Lebanon directly, and that the U.S.-brokered Lebanon-Israel negotiations are separate from the deal with Iran. “Well, that process is separate. It's separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon … we're going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government,” Rubio told reporters after landing in Abu Dhabi.He said the “Iranian issue with regards to Lebanon” is “the support and sponsorship of Hezbollah,” which will be discussed “as part of our conversations with the Iranians.”“But as far as the future of Lebanon, the future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people through their sovereign elected government, and that's who we're going to be working with,” he added.

Lebanon president rejects Israeli occupation, foreign interference
Agencies/23 June ,2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday rejected Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon and other foreign interference, alluding to Iran, as a fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks began in Washington.“We accept nothing less than an end to the Israeli occupation and at the same time, the fall of foreign tutelage, because our only option is our national sovereignty and our sole wager is on the Lebanese state,” Aoun said, according to his office. He also expressed hope that the new round of talks would be “decisive along the path of achieving what we seek for the good of our nation and people,” namely “the full restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty over every grain of its soil.”Lebanon heads into a new round of talks with Israel on Tuesday in Washington, with Beirut determined to press ahead with direct negotiations even as they appear to be overshadowed by Iran’s decision to make Lebanon part of its negotiations with the US. Lebanese officials have insisted that face-to-face negotiations with Israel are the only way to secure an end to the war raging since March 2, when the Lebanese Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia fired at Israel in support of Iran and triggered Israeli air and ground attacks that have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.But four rounds of Lebanese-Israeli talks since April failed to produce a durable ceasefire. Instead, the longest lull in fighting came this week after Iran and the US agreed a memorandum of understanding that stipulated fighting would halt across all fronts, including Lebanon. That deal buoyed Hezbollah and dealt a blow to the Lebanese state, whose leaders including Aoun had repeatedly warned that Iran cannot negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf.

Israeli envoy to US says Hezbollah feels emboldened
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter on Tuesday lamented that Hezbollah feels emboldened after the latest developments and ceasefire. "Four rounds ago, we all boarded the same train, when it was on its way to a clear destination: complete peace between the two countries, the removal of Iran (from Lebanon), the dismantling of Hezbollah, and the achievement of peace and security for Lebanon and Israel," Israel's Channel 12 quoted Leiter as saying during the opening session of the fifth round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington. "Today, this train is in danger of derailing. There is a risk that Hezbollah has received a boost of encouragement; there is no doubt that it feels strong and emboldened," Leiter decried.

Israel Fire Kills Two in Lebanon, Testing Iran-Linked Ceasefire
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Israeli gunfire killed two people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanon's Civil Defense and health ministry said, prompting Iran-backed Hezbollah to accuse Israel of violating a ceasefire that has largely held since Sunday. The lull in fighting is the longest yet in the war that was ignited by the US-Iran conflict on March 2, when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel in support of Tehran, prompting Israel's second offensive in the country since 2024. The highway south was clogged with cars on Tuesday as the relative calm encouraged displaced people to return home, despite concerns about the ceasefire's solidity and with Israeli forces still deployed deep inside Lebanon. The war has loomed over diplomacy towards resolving the US-Iran conflict, as Tehran has demanded Israel halt attacks in Lebanon as part of its interim deal with Washington, tying the fate of the wider negotiations to the Lebanon conflict.
'UNQUESTIONABLE PART' OF AGREEMENT
The ‌shooting marked the first ‌fatalities since Sunday.
Israeli soldiers opened fire at a group of people near a bulldozer clearing a ‌road ⁠in the al-Deir ⁠neighborhood of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the local mayor and Lebanon's state news agency NNA said. The Israeli military later said its troops had fired warning shots at four people on a bulldozer and motorcycle that had crossed into the zone Israeli troops are still holding in southern Lebanon. It described them as "Hezbollah terrorists operating under civilian cover". After the group of people continued to approach, "additional fire was conducted in order to remove the threat."
In a separate incident, the Israeli military said it "struck armed terrorists who posed an immediate threat" to soldiers in the Ali al-Taher ridge area - located within the same area of the south. Hezbollah, in a statement, said two civilians were killed in the Nabatieh al-Fawqa shooting and accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. It did not say whether ⁠it intended to respond. Asked about the latest incident, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, ‌Ali Bahreini, told reporters that any violation of the memorandum of understanding in Lebanon would create ‌challenges for peace talks. "Lebanon is an unquestionable part of the agreement, and whatever happens in Lebanon affects the whole process, and it is the United ‌States which should use all its leverage against Israel to make it to stop attacks against Lebanon," he said. A joint statement ‌issued at the end of US-Iranian talks in Switzerland said the parties had agreed to create "a de-confliction cell" to ensure adherence to the termination of hostilities in Lebanon. On Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a phone call that they were committed to forming the cell to solidify the ceasefire in Lebanon, and that details of its formation and how it would operate were still under review. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‌said on Monday that troops had full freedom of action to thwart any Hezbollah direct or emerging threat against them or Israeli citizens, and would remain in Lebanon for "as long as is necessary". A ⁠separate Israeli drone strike on Tuesday ⁠afternoon hit a parked car in southern Lebanon, with no casualties recorded, Lebanese state media said.
'PEOPLE ARE SCARED', LOCAL OFFICIAL SAYS
Nabatieh and the nearby Ali al-Taher ridge have been the focal point of heavy fighting in recent weeks, as Israeli forces sought to advance there. Israeli attacks have forced some 1.2 million people from their homes in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities. Zein Ghandour, the mayor of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, said residents had begun returning to check on their homes, but were being urged to stay away after Tuesday's shooting. "People were scared," he said, speaking to Reuters by phone. Further from the frontline, hundreds of families had returned to the southern town of Zrarieh, said local official Rida Abed al-Khalik. "We are expecting more to come tomorrow depending on what will happen in the meetings today," he said, referring to talks in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli government officials. In the nearby village of Toura, an official said 60-70% of residents had returned, though some had no homes to return to. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 4,100 people, including 773 women, children and healthcare workers, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The toll does not say how many combatants are among the dead.
Israel's death toll from this round of hostilities with Hezbollah includes at least 32 soldiers and four Israeli civilians.

Berri suggests return to 2024 ceasefire mechanism in talks with Macron
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who acts as an intermediary for the group, received a phone call Tuesday from French President Emmanuel Macron, his office said.
Berri emphasized "the importance of consolidating the ceasefire" and Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon.Berri also told Macron that the 2024 ceasefire agreement is "a ready opportunity, including a mechanism to stabilize the ceasefire and verify any violations or threats, if it gets adopted in the ongoing negotiations in Switzerland."

Macron Seeks New Int’l Force for South Lebanon After UNIFIL Mandate Ends
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
French President Emmanuel Macron pressed ahead with efforts to shape a new international force for southern Lebanon after the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the end of this year. Macron spoke by phone on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, discussing developments in Lebanon and the region in light of the US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland. They also tackled the situation in southern Lebanon amid the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the future of international forces operating in the south, and international efforts to support Lebanon. In his call with Aoun, talks focused on “the situation in the south and the next steps after the announcement of the ceasefire.”They reviewed the outcome of last week’s G7 summit in the French city of Evian, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. Aoun thanked Macron for the position issued by the summit on Lebanon. UNIFIL’s future took up a central part of the discussion. The two leaders examined the period after its mission ends, especially given the willingness of several European countries, with Lebanon’s backing, to keep forces inside the international area of operations.
Macron told Aoun he would contact several countries to clarify their positions, particularly as UNIFIL’s withdrawal from Lebanon is set to begin at the start of 2027. The call also covered Lebanese-Syrian relations and coordination between the two countries. Aoun welcomed remarks by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in his latest television interview, in which he stressed Syria’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Sharaa said Syria did not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon, despite comments by US President Donald Trump. Sharaa stressed that any Syrian role would go exclusively through the Lebanese state and not through other parties, and that Damascus wanted to bolster Lebanon’s stability and strengthen its official institutions. During Macron’s call with Salam, the two leaders “continued discussions on the results of Salam’s recent visit to Paris, as well as an assessment of the negotiations that began in Switzerland and their repercussions for the region and Lebanon.”They discussed efforts to secure the necessary conditions for two planned conferences, one to support the army and security forces and another to support reconstruction in wake of the war between Israel and Hezbollah. The calls come as the future of the international forces in southern Lebanon emerges as one of the most prominent issues under global discussion. At the G7 summit, leaders devoted a significant part of their talks to Lebanon, focusing on the need to find an alternative to UNIFIL once its mandate ends. According to diplomatic information, discussions are moving toward the creation of a multinational force in which France and other European countries, including Germany, Spain and Italy, have shown readiness to participate. Its core mission would be to support and train the Lebanese army, equipping it with the capabilities needed to expand its deployment and extend state authority, thereby reinforcing stability and implementing security arrangements in southern Lebanon.

Syria: Avoiding the Trap of Intervention in Lebanon
Fayez Sara/Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa renewed his rejection of intervention in Lebanon in response to multiple calls and demands for armed involvement against Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Al Sharaa stated that what is being said and circulated about intervention is unfounded. He added that Syria seeks to play a positive role focused on ending the war (in Lebanon), calming tensions, and strengthening Lebanese state institutions.His remarks put to rest weeks of speculation fueled by political signals and media narratives, including repeated suggestions from US President Donald Trump that Al Sharaa might deploy forces against Hezbollah to reshape Lebanon’s internal balance of power. These claims, amplified by analysis and rumor alike, often ventured into worst case scenarios, predicting negative consequences for both Syria and Lebanon. The firm stance against intervention in Lebanon is linked to a profound shift in Syria’s regional and international policies - one of the early outcomes following the fall of the Assad regime and the establishment of a new government in late 2024. In this context, a different policy approach has been adopted in regional and international relations, based on peace, cooperation, and the creation of new shared understandings for managing relations and resolving both existing and potential disputes. A key component of this approach is refraining from regional interventions, especially military ones, which have brought endless problems to Syria and its people. These policy directions have also been accompanied by a focus on addressing the internal situation, which the Assad regime had reduced to total devastation, particularly during the years of the Syrian conflict (2011–2024). Recovery now requires the full energy and attention of Syrians and their government, as well as broad regional and international support in all fields. It also necessitates avoiding entanglement in conflicts that could negatively impact efforts to address core domestic challenges and delay Syria’s recovery and reconstruction. Within this framework of new Syrian policy, the new leadership has presented a different image of the changes in Syrian Russian relations, despite Russia’s role in protecting the Assad regime and the crimes it committed against the Syrian people. Similarly, there appears to be a relative improvement in Damascus’ ties with the governments of Iraq and Lebanon, both of which had allowed militias - from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces to Lebanon’s Hezbollah - to cross into Syria and assist the Assad regime in its war against Syrians. The overall picture of changes in the foundations of Syrian policy confirms that rejecting intervention in Lebanon was a natural outcome. It also suggests that the emergence of a new pattern in Syrian Lebanese relations, based on resolving disputes and creating new opportunities for cooperation needed by both countries, is equally natural.Most likely, ending the war in Lebanon could serve as an opportunity to launch broad and multifaceted Syrian Lebanese cooperation projects, including addressing outstanding issues such as Syrian refugees in Lebanon. This could extend further to agreements and understandings on water resources, oil transport pipelines, and land transportation of goods and passengers. However, the path toward the hoped for positive development in Syrian Lebanese ties will not be easy, due to the heavy legacy of the past, particularly under the long rule of the Assad regime and its deep military involvement in Lebanon for over three decades. This legacy has left disastrous effects on both countries and their peoples, requiring time and effort to overcome. Nevertheless, necessity may prove to be the strongest catalyst to quickly move beyond these effects, especially in light of structural changes in governance in both countries and their political orientations on one hand, and the recent efforts to address shared issues on the other.

Qassem demands full Israeli withdrawal 'according to a timetable'
Agence France Presse/23 June ,2026
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Tuesday demanded a full, scheduled withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon to make way for a Lebanese Army deployment in the south following the U.S.-Iran deal to end the Middle East war. "We now have a ceasefire. The withdrawal must take place according to a timetable. Israel has no choice but to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territory, without retaining an inch," Qassem said in a televised address. "Israel withdraws and the Lebanese Army deploys exclusively south of the Litani River," Qassem added. Moreover, Qassem noted that "we are now in a new phase in the history of Lebanon, its resistance, its army, its people, and its future -- phase called breaking the Israeli project." "We can say that after all of Israel's attempts over the past two or three years, we have reached a stage where the project has been broken. This doesn't mean they won't try again, or that there won't be other phases, but there was a grand project called eliminating Hezbollah militarily, politically, culturally, socially, and demographically, and eliminating its existence and the existence of all those who stand with it ... This project has been broken," Qassem boasted. He suggested that now the Israelis "need a long period of time to try to return. They may succeed, or they may not. Let them try their luck."Qassem also pointed out that Hezbollah had chosen to "join the fighting while counting on Iran" on March 2 out of the Lebanese group's "cleverness.""When we entered the fray while Iran was already engaged, we benefited from them, and they benefited from us, and these were the results," Qassem explained. As for the future of his group's controversial arsenal of weapons, Qassem said: "Israel has no say in what we agree upon internally in Lebanon, and it must be prevented from interfering, asking questions, or even knowing what we will do in the future. It has no right to know. This interference must be prevented."He concluded: "The Lebanese political authority now has a proven guarantee called the Resistance, the most honorable resistance that shattered the might of America and Israel and prevented Israel from achieving its goals. We tell you to benefit from this resistance so that you may be strong in facing challenges."

Vance tells Geagea US pressuring Iran to ensure Hezbollah disarms
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has told Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea that the U.S.' talks with Iran regarding Lebanon do not aim to give Tehran any role in determining Lebanon's future or influencing its decisions, but to ensure that Iran pressures Hezbollah to abide by its commitments and obligations.Geagea said Tuesday that Vance's letter was a response to his appeal to the Vice President to support the Lebanese state and separate the Lebanese negotiations from the U.S.-Iran talks.According to Geagea, Vance said the United States views President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government as the sole legitimate authority in Lebanon and stressed Washington's will to work with the Lebanese state to enable it to protect its sovereignty and consolidate its legitimate authority. Geagea had argued that the best way the U.S. can support Lebanon is by reinforcing its legitimate institutions as the country's sole authority. He called for restricting all negotiations exclusively to the Lebanese state and permanently sidelining Iran from the Lebanese file, after the U.S. and Iran agreed to set up a "de-confliction cell" with Lebanon "to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations" there.

Israel says soldiers struck 'terrorist cell' in southern Lebanon
Agence France Presse/23 June ,2026
The Israeli military said Tuesday its soldiers struck a "cell of armed terrorists" in southern Lebanon, the first fighting it has reported since Saturday evening. "A short while ago, the IDF identified a cell of armed terrorists operating in close proximity to IDF soldiers in the security zone in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area," the military said. "Following the identification, the soldiers struck the terrorists north of the security zone in order to remove the threat," it added, without elaborating.

Hezbollah decries 'blatant' truce violation after Israeli fire in Lebanon
Agence France Presse/23 June ,2026
Hezbollah decried what it called a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire in Lebanon on Tuesday, after state media there reported two people killed by Israeli gunfire in the country's south.
"The Islamic Resistance warns that what the enemy has committed constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire, which the Resistance has adhered to up to this point," the group said in a statement.

Diplomat says any attacks on Lebanon a 'red line' for Iran
Naharnet/23 June ,2026
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, affirmed Tuesday that the resumption of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program is contingent upon the implementation of five points outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Bahreini explained that a specialized working group has been formed to monitor the implementation of the MOU signed with the United States. Regarding Lebanon, the Iranian ambassador emphasized that his country would respond if Israel violated the MOU in any way, including launching attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah. He added that "the red line for Iran is any further attacks on Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut, and southern Lebanon.

LACC Statement on the Developments in Lebanon
Washington, DC | June 23, 2026
The Lebanese-American Coordinating Committee (LACC), representing the broadest coalition of Lebanese-Americans in the United States, convened an emergency meeting to discuss the rapidly evolving and dangerous developments concerning Lebanon, as well as to follow closely the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, whose fifth round will be held in Washington under the auspices of the United States.
Participants unanimously agreed that Lebanon is passing through an exceptionally dangerous phase that rises to the level of an existential threat to its very entity and future. This threat is reflected in the confiscation of Lebanon’s sovereign decision-making, the Iranian regime’s malicious efforts to impose its tutelage over the country, and Hizbollah’s deep penetration of state institutions in an attempt to paralyze and marginalize them. Equally alarming is the sectarian incitement promoted by the party’s propaganda apparatus, which threatens internal stability and civil peace.
Accordingly, the Lebanese-American Coordinating Committee (LACC) declares the following:
First, we reaffirm that the State, represented by its legitimate constitutional authorities, is the sole holder of the decision of war and peace. No other party has the right to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon, make demands in its name, determine its destiny, or conclude memoranda of understanding or agreements on its behalf. Second, we stress the exclusive right of the Lebanese State to bear arms. Any military manifestation or security activity outside the authority of the State, particularly the weapons and military activities of Hizbollah, constitutes a violation of state sovereignty, a blatant breach of the law, and a direct threat to Lebanese civil peace. Third, we emphasize the necessity of strong domestic and international support for the decision of Lebanon’s constitutional authorities, represented by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, to place all weapons exclusively under the authority of the State and to reject the legitimacy of any military activity outside its institutions. The conditions and capabilities required for the implementation of this decision must be provided without delay, postponement, or obstruction. We further underscore the importance of empowering Lebanon’s security institutions, particularly the Lebanese Armed Forces, to carry out this national mission effectively and professionally.
Fourth, we affirm that Hizbollah is an organic component of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its military, security, and economic apparatus constitutes a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a threat to internal stability and civil peace. Hizbollah has consistently exercised military supremacy within Lebanon and has sought, through a logic of coercion and domination, to tighten its grip on state decision-making, impose faits accomplis, undermine Lebanon’s security, and damage Lebanon’s reputation and international relations. The continued existence of this arsenal in its current form effectively keeps Lebanon hostage to Iranian interference in Lebanon’s security and national interests.
Fifth, we strongly support the positions adopted by the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in condemning the conduct of the Iranian regime and confronting its malicious attempt to hold Lebanon hostage, use it as a bargaining chip for its national security interests, and transform it into an open arena of “jihad” and a strategic extension of its regional ambitions. This reality necessitates a reassessment of Lebanese-Iranian relations on the basis of sovereignty and mutual respect rather than tutelage, and under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese State in all matters concerning its security and international relations.
Sixth, Negotiation, in all its forms, is a national option and a sovereign decision, not merely a political choice. It reflects the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Lebanese who have been exhausted by the wars of others fought on their land and who seek the restoration of normal and secure life and Lebanon’s traditional civilizational role. Negotiation is a constitutional right and falls within the powers of the President of the Republic to “negotiate and conclude international treaties in agreement with the Prime Minister”.
Seventh, we warn against attempts by certain intermediaries between Iran and the United States to assist Iran in securing diplomatic cover for Hizbollah’s weapons, obtaining implicit recognition of their legitimacy, and portraying them as merely a secondary or domestic Lebanese issue. Such efforts deliberately obscure the fact that Hizbollah’s weapons have become the central challenge to Lebanese sovereignty and the principal obstacle to Lebanon’s recovery. Any delay in disarming Hizbollah effectively prolongs Lebanon’s condition of state failure and institutional paralysis.
Eighth, we reaffirm the exclusive right of the Lebanese State to employ all legitimate means to safeguard and secure its rights, including direct negotiations and the conclusion of agreements and treaties that ensure a ceasefire, the complete Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories, the return of displaced persons to their homes, the release of prisoners, and the establishment of lasting arrangements that guarantee security and stability along Lebanon’s borders.
Ninth, Since Lebanon alone is the legitimate authority in any negotiation, understanding, or agreement, we consider the direct negotiations currently taking place between Lebanon and Israel in Washington to be the only viable path toward ending the existing state of conflict between the two countries. This requires the categorical rejection of any attempt by Iran to involve Lebanon in negotiations between Tehran and Washington, or for Iran and Hizbollah to negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf for the purpose of preserving Hizbollah’s weapons and perpetuating a disguised Iranian tutelage over Lebanon.
Tenth, we support the Lebanese negotiating team, have full confidence in its patriotism, and commend its efforts. We also support the frameworks, declarations of intent, and political and security arrangements emerging from these negotiations as the exclusive path toward ending the suffering of all Lebanese citizens, restoring normal life, and reestablishing Lebanon’s full sovereignty.
Eleventh, we commend and appreciate the role of President Trump and his Administration in sponsoring the direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel aimed at resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries. We regard American sponsorship as an essential guarantee for Lebanon in ending all forms of Israeli occupation of its territory, restoring sovereignty internally, and providing significant support for Lebanon’s economic, cultural, and national recovery.
Twelfth, we call upon the United States Administration to firmly prevent any attempt by the Iranian regime to use Lebanon as a tool of pressure or blackmail in relation to its nuclear file, or to secure political cover for the future of Hizbollah’s uncontrolled weapons within Lebanon. Lebanon’s future must be determined solely by the Lebanese people through their legitimate State, which alone represents them, negotiates on their behalf, and decides what best serves their interests.
The Lebanese-American Coordinating Committee (LACC) further pledges to the Lebanese people its unwavering commitment to continue its struggle for the establishment of a sovereign, free, just, independent, and citizenship-based State, and to advancing the Lebanese Cause.

Hezbollah’s Ongoing Effort to Build Up Its Drone Force: Training Drone Operators and Establishing Logistical Infrastructure
Israel-Alma/June 23/2026
·Hezbollah’s Ongoing Effort to Build Up Its Drone Force: Training Drone Operators and Establishing Logistical Infrastructure
An analysis of Hezbollah’s operational patterns during the most recent campaign against Israel indicates the growing centrality of its drone force within the organization’s military activities.
Of the 1,163 attacks carried out by Hezbollah during the “ceasefire” period and until it ceased attacks against Israel (from April 17 to June 20, 2026), 637 attacks were conducted using drones and UAVs, accounting for 54.8% of all attacks. Most of these operations relied on FPV drones, which have become one of the organization’s most prominent combat tools.
The high proportion of drone and UAV attacks demonstrates that Hezbollah views these systems as a significant operational force multiplier. They provide the organization with a combination of precision, availability, lethality, and intelligence-gathering capabilities. In addition, they enable real-time documentation, which significantly contributes to Hezbollah’s information and influence campaign through the dissemination of footage from attacks.
These advantages have made the drone force one of Hezbollah’s key investment areas. As early as late 2024, the organization identified the drone force as a decisive capability in a future conflict.
In recent months, several operatives involved in drone operations for Hezbollah’s operational units have been eliminated. Hezbollah is actively working to build and maintain a dedicated drone force that will allow the organization to preserve and further develop its capabilities in this domain. Targeting these operatives is intended to undermine the expertise and manpower required to operate and sustain the drone force.
At the same time, a parallel logistical effort continues to support the development of this capability. An example can be found in a case recently uncovered in Lebanon, in which a businessman was investigated on suspicion of involvement in importing several shipments of electronic components from France allegedly intended for the production and assembly of drones for Hezbollah. According to reports, the shipments included ostensibly civilian-use items, such as motors and electronic components with a wide range of applications, which were allegedly procured and transferred through procurement networks operating in Europe and Lebanon. The case highlights the importance Hezbollah places on securing access to the components and technologies required to continue developing its drone capabilities.
The elimination of drone operators on the one hand, and the exposure of procurement and component-smuggling efforts on the other, reflect the two principal pillars upon which Hezbollah’s drone force relies: skilled personnel and a supporting logistical infrastructure. Together, these developments provide further indication that the organization continues to devote substantial resources and attention to this field.

Paying off Iran has never worked
Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/June 23/2026
Is it cheaper to pay off the mafia than to fight it? This is the moral dilemma the world is now facing with Iran and nobody has the right answer. For 40 years, the smartest people in the world’s foreign policy establishments have tried, yet the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still there, still expanding, still holding the region hostage. So maybe the issue here is not about finding the right answer — maybe it is about whether we are even asking the right questions.
There are only three ways to deal with a protection racket. You pay, you wait for it to go legitimate, or you hit it hard enough that it has to reconsider everything. The world has mostly been going with the first of these options. It has occasionally hoped for the second. It has only recently attempted the third by attacking Iran in its own territory rather than keeping busy fighting its proxies. So, here are my three questions. They are not easy to answer and are even uncomfortable to pose.
Do we pay the mafia? The case for paying is not stupid — it was suggested to me by a very clever friend who is also a columnist for Arab News. We have seen how the IRGC can close the Strait of Hormuz and choke off a fifth of the world’s oil exports. It has proxies in five countries and it has already demonstrated how it can seriously threaten its Arab Gulf neighbors. Open confrontation carries real risks and serious people have spent careers mapping them. So, we have kept paying and have managed the relationship, avoiding confrontation.
Reagan traded weapons for hostages and the lesson Tehran took away was not gratitude — it was that the Americans have a price
The problem is that every time we have paid, the IRGC has reinvested the payment. Former US President Ronald Reagan traded weapons for hostages and the lesson Tehran took away was not gratitude — it was that the Americans have a price. Barack Obama negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal and the money that flowed into Iran went to Hezbollah’s payroll, Houthi missiles and militia infrastructure across Iraq and Syria. The deal deliberately said nothing about any of that. Its architects called it a foundation. Iran called it a down payment. Those are very different things.
A protection racket does not retire when it is satisfied. It expands when it is fed. Every concession is proof that the system works and pays dividends. You are not buying peace, you are financing the next demand.
But what if the mafia goes legitimate? History is full of pirates who became admirals, robber barons who became philanthropists, criminals who became the establishment. Carnegie and Rockefeller built their empires through predation and ended up endowing universities and concert halls. The Godfather himself — in “The Godfather Part III” — wanted nothing more than to go clean, be received by the pope and leave the family business behind.
So, could the IRGC follow the same arc? It has spent four decades building not just a military network but a vast economic empire — construction, telecoms, logistics, banking. At some point, does an organization with that much to lose from instability become a stakeholder in stability? It is a tempting idea. But it may also need a strong push and that has not happened with the IRGC.
And then there is the Godfather problem. Michael Corleone’s tragedy is not that he does not want to go legitimate — he desperately does — the tragedy is that the organization will not let him. Too many people’s power and income depend on the criminal structure continuing. Even if pragmatic factions inside the Iranian system would prefer a different relationship with the world, the IRGC has too many internal stakes in confrontation to make the transition on its own.
The next question is can hitting hard enough, like what just happened to Iran, provoke the desired reset? Like giving your old television a kick to make it work. The lessons from the 2003 invasion of Iraq are that you cannot destroy the system completely and occupy and construct from scratch. You do not have the knowledge or the persistence, it is too costly, and eventually regime change happens at home before you see the desired results. Occupation is expensive. What we learned is that nation-building takes generations and we lack the patience and competence to manage it.
What the disruptive approach gets right is recognizing that accommodating the status quo indefinitely is not a neutral act
Perhaps the lessons from Syria are also relevant. The world engaged Bashar Assad for years, accommodated him and treated him as a rational actor who could be managed and helped to reform. The regime pretended to comply — surrendering chemical weapons on paper, negotiating ceasefires it never intended to honor — meaning we were kept busy while the regime destroyed the country, massacred and displaced its people and held on to power.
And then, after all that, the regime collapsed anyway. Not because of a Western strategy. But because its own contradictions caught up with it and a rebel force nobody had planned for moved faster than anyone thought possible. Assad fled to Moscow. Syria is now governed by people who were on every terrorism watchlist five years ago. Maybe an attack in 2013 honoring Obama’s red line would have sped up that process and saved many lives and many cities.
But what if there is a new Trump doctrine of regime change that is emerging? Simply put, it is a combination of maximum pressure and sudden shocks like the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and the February attacks, leading to decapitation and major destruction of military infrastructure. Batter the regime through sanctions, degrade its capacity and deliver shocks — without committing to what comes next. Shake the system, disrupt it and then take a step back and watch what happens. If it does not reset in a way you like, you can just whack it again. No occupation, no micromanaging, just like kicking that old TV again. Maybe what happened in Venezuela was a test run.
The direction of the break is not predictable. But the theory is that you do not need to control the outcome — you just need to change the conditions enough that a different outcome becomes possible. The mafia eventually learns what is sustainable. Maybe.
What the disruptive approach gets right is the recognition that the status quo cannot hold and that accommodating it indefinitely is not a neutral act. What Donald Trump is doing and saying keeps both the enemy and the US’ allies confused. The main idea is that you cannot precisely design an outcome, you just know that you cannot continue with the present arrangement and hope that, through trial and error, you reach one you can live with.
There is, of course, also the hardest question of all: the important moral dimension of giving a brutal and repressive regime a new lease of life while its people desperately want to get rid of it.
*Nadim Shehadi is an economist and political adviser. X: @Confusezeus

The Story of the Crosses on the Peaks of Lebanon's Mountains!
George Hayek / June 23, 2026 (Translated from Arabic by Google)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155496/
Between the cross and the peaks of Lebanon's mountains lies an ancient love story, so much so that the image of a mountain without a cross seems incomplete in the Lebanese consciousness. This is not by chance, but rather the fruit of a long history of faith deeply rooted in this land. The relationship between crosses and the highlands dates back to the early Christian centuries, specifically to the time of Saint Simeon Stylites the Great, disciple of Saint Maron, when the villages of northern Lebanon and its surrounding mountains suffered from attacks by wild beasts that instilled fear in the hearts of the inhabitants and threatened their livelihoods and lives. The farmers' primary concern was protecting their land, fields, and livestock. After Saint Simeon baptized the people of those villages, he asked them to carve seven crosses into the rock around the boundaries of each village and on the surrounding peaks. The crosses were erected as a sign of faith and a symbol of divine protection, and the region was blessed until the attacks of the wild beasts subsided, according to what has been passed down through generations in popular memory. It is no secret that these crosses remain planted in the earth to this day, especially on the peaks of the northern mountains, bearing witness to the depth of Christian faith and its deep roots in this region. These are the seven crosses that stand in Hasroun, Bsharri, Ehden, Ayto, Hadath El Jebbeh, Aqoura, and Laqlouq. Even today, the inhabitants of some of these areas still recite popular protective phrases, such as "In the name of the seven crosses," seeking blessings and warding off evil and danger. Churches and ancient shrines dedicated to Saint Simeon Stylites are also scattered throughout the region, most notably the Monastery of Saint Simeon Stylites in Ayto, the Church of Aqoura, and the hermitage in Bqerqasha. But the crosses did not remain confined to these historical sites; they spread to other mountain peaks across Lebanon, becoming beacons of faith that reach for the heavens and are visible from afar.
Among the most prominent of these crosses is:
• The Cross of All Nations – Qanat Bakish: Considered one of the most famous religious landmarks in Lebanon, it is located in the mountains of Baskinta. Standing at approximately 74 meters tall atop a towering mountain peak, it is among the largest illuminated crosses in the world.
• Mount of the Cross – Faraya: This cross rises to an altitude of 1,851 meters above sea level. It was a dream cherished by the people of the region since 1951, culminating in the erection of this massive cross in 2011, transforming the site into a destination for believers and tourists alike.
• Ehden Cross: A colossal cross, approximately 16 meters high, stands atop Mount Mar Sarkis, overlooking Ehden and its surroundings. Despite enduring harsh winter weather, it has become one of the region's most prominent landmarks.
• Qanzouha Cross – Qaa al-Rim: This cross rises approximately 8.45 meters above a mountain peak exceeding 1,900 meters above sea level, forming a significant spiritual landmark in the upper Bekaa Valley. In the 20th century, Father Jacob the Capuchin carried the message of the Cross to new heights. He believed that the Cross was not merely a religious symbol, but a sign of salvation, hope, and the enduring presence of Christ in human life. Therefore, he made it a practice to erect large crosses on mountaintops and hills, to stand as witnesses to faith and spiritual beacons guiding souls.
Among the most famous crosses associated with his name are:
The Cross of Jall el-Dib Hill.
The Cross of Deir el-Qamar, overlooking the historic town.
In Annaya, where the land pulsates with the sanctity of Saint Charbel, the story of the Cross takes on another dimension. Those who walk the "Path of the Saints," which stretches between the Monastery of Saint Maron and the hermitage, find themselves on a journey of prayer and contemplation that traverses oak forests before culminating at a large white cross embedded in the rock, facing the hill that houses the hermitage of Saint Charbel.
The Annaya Cross is linked in the Lebanese Christian memory to two intertwined meanings: the spiritual dimension associated with Saint Charbel, and the national dimension associated with the Lebanese resistance during the years of war. In the 1980s, this cross was one of the most prominent Christian landmarks in Mount Lebanon. As the war intensified, it acquired a special symbolism for many residents of Christian areas and Lebanese resistance fighters, who saw in it a sign of resilience, survival, and attachment to the land and identity. Over the years, the Annaya Cross transformed into a moral symbol, encapsulating the idea that the battle was not merely military or political, but also a battle for existence and the preservation of freedom and faith. Therefore, many during that period repeated the phrase, "The Annaya Cross will not fall," a symbolic reference to the steadfastness of the Christian presence in Lebanon, no matter how severe the trials or how great the challenges. Thus, the crosses scattered across the peaks of Lebanon remain more than just stones or architectural landmarks. They are silent testaments to the history of a people who carried their faith to the highest mountains and, with the cross, inscribed a story of survival rooted between earth and heaven.

Gaddafi, Jumblatt, and Abu Nidal in a Boat… The Relationship with the Soviets
Samir Attallah/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 23, 2026  (Translated from Arabic by Google)
In his memoirs, published in French and released simultaneously with his television interviews, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt discusses the relationship with the Soviets, a topic we began addressing yesterday. “After the reconciliation with Damascus, the Soviets became our strategic ally, supplying us with large quantities of weapons via Odessa and Tartus, including tanks, artillery, and ammunition, between 1978 and 1989. The Russian weapons passed through Syrian army depots, and at my request, we transported them to Mukhtara according to our needs. After the Israeli occupation in 1982, I seized the opportunity to build ammunition depots almost everywhere in the Chouf region.” “In Marsti, I built seven fortified bunkers to house our heavy ammunition, 132mm Katyusha rockets, and 130mm mortars; that site was designated for artillery and rocket launchers. In 1983, we began receiving heavy artillery; slowly at first due to Syrian reservations, but after a period of hesitation, the weapons began to flow to us uninterrupted, along with the ammunition we needed. I had to store it somewhere. In the areas we controlled, I didn't leave a single cellar empty of ammunition; I even used churches as depots—may God forgive me. Our fighters would come to them to resupply when needed. Sometimes, Syrian army convoys would arrive from the Syrian border as far as the town of Soufar on the edge of the Chouf Mountains, where we could see columns of trucks advancing from the Bekaa Valley.” Throughout the civil war, I was in Beirut in contact with the Soviet ambassador, Alexander Soldatov, a seasoned diplomat whose postings included Tehran and Cuba during the 1963 missile crisis. Historically, it is said that Vyacheslav Molotov, Stalin's former right-hand man and head of the Soviet government, asked him where he would like to retire, and he chose Beirut, where he ultimately remained for nearly twelve years, from 1974 to 1986, witnessing every stage of our war. Thanks to him and other contacts, I was able to visit Moscow several times and maintain regular contact with this crucial ally of the Lebanese left, following in my father's footsteps. The first time, in 1967, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, I had accompanied him after the setback of the Six-Day War. My father wanted to know the Soviet position on the Arab-Israeli conflict and involve them in it. I remember that in the newly built Palace of Congresses inside the Kremlin, we listened to a lengthy speech by Leonid Brezhnev, who was still in good health. For five hours, he reviewed the successes of the Communist Party and the Five-Year Plan, mentioning the Middle East conflict only once, at the end, citing UN Security Council Resolution 242, which "demands the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the occupied territories." He said nothing more, much to my father's disappointment. During the war, in addition to heavy weapons, the Soviets protected us when we experienced periods of tension with Damascus and Assad, particularly during the "War of the Camps" that erupted in May 1985—a particularly tragic phase of the civil war—when Syria engaged in fighting against the PLO-affiliated Palestinians. President Assad wanted to draw us into the conflict on the side of the Amal Movement, which he controlled, but I refused to participate. Within the Central Committee, I was in contact with Yevgeny Ponomarev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party responsible for liberation movements. Our relations with the Russians were always friendly, and they consistently offered me protection, as we, along with other political movements such as the Palestine Liberation Organization, were part of the "struggle against imperialism." The relationship between Moscow and Mukhtara began in 1964, following Kamal Jumblatt's first visit to the Soviet capital. His aim was to raise Russian awareness of the Palestinian cause, which was still largely unknown outside the Middle East. Until we meet again.

On “Experimental Zones”
Hanna Saleh/Al-Sharq Al-Awsat/June 23, 2026  (Translated from Arabic by Google)
In May 2000, the Israeli enemy withdrew from southern Lebanon without any negotiations or preconditions. Ehud Barak fulfilled his promise to the “Four Mothers” (a reference to the four mothers of the Lebanese resistance) to withdraw if he won the Knesset elections. This withdrawal shocked the pillars of the Syrian-Lebanese security apparatus, as the move deprived Damascus of the role it had envisioned for southern Lebanon: a conduit for communication with Israel and an arena for improving its terms. The Syrian regime quickly fabricated the issue of the “Shebaa Farms” to justify the continued presence of illegal weapons and, consequently, the perpetuation of the assigned role for southern Lebanon. Consequently, President Emile Lahoud was instructed to leave the South under the control of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, effectively making them the de facto authority for southern residents. The government's role was limited to a tour by then-Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, after which he announced the completion of UN Security Council Resolution 425. This resolution, however, did not include the Shebaa Farms, which had been occupied at the end of the 1967 war. At the time, Beirut informed the United Nations that no Lebanese territory was under occupation, which is why UN Security Council Resolution 242 made no mention of Lebanon. Following the 2000 withdrawal, the Blue Line was demarcated as the demarcation line under UN supervision. The idea of ​​a "pilot regiment" was then proposed, tasked with overseeing the border strip, which had been under Israeli control, to organize the "South Lebanon Army" under the leadership of Antoine Lahad. The aim was to create a secure environment for residents who had not fled to Israel following the rapid Israeli withdrawal. It was said that this might encourage others to return and regularize their status before the courts… The idea was stifled in its infancy, and the government failed to defend it in the face of pressure from the Syrian presence, Hassan Nasrallah, and Emile Lahoud!
Today, after the “two-pronged” war on Gaza and Iran led to a return of the occupation, on a scale twice that of before 2000, it became clear that the “resistance,” which had lost its defining characteristic since the liberation, is not a means capable of ending the occupation. This gave particular importance to the American proposal presented in the previous round of negotiations: “Experimental zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces assume exclusive control of the territory, excluding all non-governmental actors.” In other words, the Israeli enemy would withdraw from certain occupied areas, which would then be handed over to the army. The army would work in coordination with the “mechanism” committee to clear these areas of any armed presence outside the framework of the state. This would be followed by the return of displaced persons to launch the long process of reconstruction. A realistic view of the situation suggests that Hezbollah has subjected Lebanon to a crushing defeat and a historic catastrophe, particularly for the people of the south who were uprooted from their land. It is well known that there is no possibility of ending the occupation, which has never concealed its ambitions and the dictates it seeks to impose. While it previously claimed the "right" to act at will, the strategic shift it adopted after October 7, 2023, based on "advanced defense" from other countries' territory to render the borders impenetrable, has been met with American approval. Given the approaching Knesset elections, which imply Israeli intransigence, the current round of negotiations, which began today in Washington, is of exceptional importance, as the "experimental zones," with their maps and borders, are the most prominent issue on the table. It is clear that Washington seeks to translate the ceasefire understandings into tangible realities on the ground by testing the ability of the Lebanese army, and by extension the Lebanese government, to extend its control over specific areas, paving the way for a broader implementation of the experiment. This approach, on the ground, means making the government the sole point of reference for citizens, as is supposed to happen, thus dismantling the "canton" system that has prevailed in the south since 2000! What is being discussed today in the direct negotiations, should Tel Aviv concede, reinforces Lebanon's separate status and opens a serious window for a gradual withdrawal. Because the balance of power is firmly in place at the negotiating table, it is futile to speak of any possibility of imposing a comprehensive withdrawal similar to the 2000 withdrawal. However, this solution, according to American logic, provides security guarantees for Israel. It is useful here to revisit the 1949 Armistice Agreement, which included Israeli recognition of Lebanon's international borders and stipulated the prohibition of using Lebanese territory to attack Israel, as well as a reciprocal non-aggression. The 1969 Cairo Agreement constituted a major breach of the Armistice Agreement. However, the government's decisions of August 5th to extend sovereignty and disarm illegal militias, followed by the government's decisions of March 2nd to ban and criminalize Hezbollah's military and security activities, effectively nullified all legal implications of the Cairo Agreement. Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri immediately rejected the proposed "experimental zones." Hezbollah is well aware that the proposed implementation, under the direct supervision of the "mechanism," would preclude its redeployment in these areas, which the state is reclaiming for the first time in decades, thus strengthening the state's position and authority. From this perspective, the "experimental zones," if successful, could be seen as a step towards ending the Israeli occupation, dismantling illegal militias, and eliminating the role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Lebanon, which, according to the Prime Minister, is conducting military operations outside the state's control and authority.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on 23-24 June/2026
Netanyahu's speech and three very important interventions on global politics, held in Israel on June 21, 2026
خطاب نيتنياهو وثلاثة مداخلات مهمة للغاية من السياسة العالمية الذي عقد في إسرائيل بتاريخ21 حزيران/2026
2026 International Policy Summit/June 21/2026
Video Link from JNS/“I’ll Tell You Everything!” Netanyahu Breaks Silence On Trump Rumors, Iran War & Israel’s Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSZkH3zK5Wc
Video Link from JNS/Mark Levin GOES OFF on The Far-Right, Iran & Islamic World!/Very very informative and impostant approach that uncovers all that needs to be known about the Iranian Mullahs', Netanyahoo's patritic roll, and ignorance of the Western contries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgH-F1Y_Qko
2026 International Policy Summit/June 21/2026
Video Link from JNS/Entire Crowd STUNNED as Melanie Phillips Gives Chilling Warning on Islam!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF9NMXymFng
2026 International Policy Summit/June 21/2026
Video Link from JNS/Caroline GlIck: Israel’s Enemies Think They’ve Won, But We Have A Secret Weapon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E90pWQl1j4&t=917s

Netanyahu says Israel should ‘break free’ of US military aid
AFP/23 June ,2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called again for his country to increase its military autonomy and reduce its reliance on support from the United States, according to a statement released on Tuesday by his office.“I deeply appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we need to break free from dependency and build our own independent armaments network,” the premier told reserve officers on a training course in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu was speaking on June 18, a day after the US and Iran agreed an initial deal to end the Middle East war, which has been fiercely opposed in Israel. “Today I say: We need our own independent armaments network. We must manufacture our own armaments,” Netanyahu said. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has received more than $300 billion, adjusted for inflation, in US economic and military assistance, according to figures from the Council on Foreign Relations, far more than any other country has received since 1946. Under an agreement signed in 2016 and in force since 2019, it receives financial assistance for the purchase of around $3.8 billion of weapons a year, accounting for around 15 percent of the defense budget. That deal runs until 2028. The Israeli premier has previously said he wanted to end Israel’s reliance on US support. In January he told The Economist that he hoped to do so within a decade, while in May he told US broadcaster CBS that he wanted support to reach “zero.”
Washington is Israel’s closest ally, but the two have clashed over the conduct of Israel’s wars since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. US President Donald Trump has been publicly critical of Netanyahu in recent weeks as Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon threatened peace talks with Iran. The president also swore in public while condemning Israel and Iran for breaching a ceasefire that ended last year’s 12-day war. During another period of strained relations over Iran, in May 2025, Netanyahu suggested Israel should “wean itself” off US aid.

Netanyahu Affirms: Our War with Iran and its Proxies Is Not Over
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/June 23, 2026
Amidst ongoing tensions between Israel and the United States regarding the memorandum of understanding with Iran and the war in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that Israel had dealt a powerful blow to Tehran and its proxies in the region. However, during a meeting with reserve combat officers in Gush Etzion on Tuesday, he emphasized that the war is not yet over. Netanyahu also expressed his deep appreciation for the support provided by the United States to his country, but stressed the need for Israel to liberate itself from dependence. He stated, "We must produce our own military needs," according to Israeli media reports. He added, "I greatly appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we need to free ourselves from dependence on them and build our own independent weapons system." US President Donald Trump expressed confidence Monday evening in his ability to resolve Israel's reluctance to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon. He told reporters, "I'm a great problem solver, and I solve problems very quickly, including with Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu)." This came after Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, repeatedly affirmed that the army would not withdraw from what they termed the "security zone" in southern Lebanon, despite the fact that the US-Iranian memorandum of understanding signed on June 18th stipulated otherwise. These statements also came amidst a crisis of confidence between Washington and Tel Aviv, and recent criticisms leveled at the Israeli government by US administration officials. US-Israeli relations are experiencing significant volatility, the effects of which were clearly evident in the recent public criticisms from Trump. The US president described "Bibi," as he calls him, as "crazy," claiming he is a warmonger. For his part, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticized ministers in Netanyahu's government last week, reminding Tel Aviv that most of the weapons it uses come from the United States. It is worth noting that Netanyahu and many Israeli officials viewed the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump with the Iranian side last Wednesday as "risky of empowering Iran, which they consider a sworn enemy of Israel, and restricting their ability to respond to threats emanating from Hezbollah in Lebanon."

Trump: Iran's money will be disbursed on American terms... and Hormuz is witnessing a record flow of oil... He confirmed that he agreed to completely lift the naval blockade on Iran
Riyadh - Al Arabiya / June 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump said that the Iranian funds that the US Treasury will release will be deposited in an escrow account under US control, and will not be available to Tehran directly, stressing that they will be used to purchase US medical supplies and foodstuffs, including corn, wheat and soybeans, exclusively from the United States. Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday: “These are things that Iran desperately needs. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to provide assistance, now, before it is too late.” Trump added in the post that oil prices are witnessing a sharp decline, considering that the world has become “safer” in the wake of recent developments in the Middle East. He noted that Iran has made concessions to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open to navigation, without imposing any naval blockade at the present time, while emphasizing the possibility of re-imposing the blockade if the need arises. Trump also stated that the United States would keep ships in the Strait of Hormuz in case there was a need to re-impose the blockade on Iranian ports, something he described as "very unlikely at this stage." He explained that about 19 million barrels of oil flowed through the strait yesterday, which he described as a record. The United States exempted Iran from sanctions for 60 days, starting yesterday, Monday, after the first talks within the framework of the initial agreement signed between the two countries. Trump confirmed that he agreed to completely lift the naval blockade, pointing out that Iran is in dire need of humanitarian aid. Regarding the nuclear file, the US President said that the talks with Iran are going well, adding that Tehran has fully agreed to nuclear inspections, including applying the highest levels of oversight and inspection “indefinitely.” He considered that this guaranteed what he described as “nuclear integrity,” stressing that if this was not adhered to, there would be no subsequent negotiations. Iran denied starting any discussions about its nuclear program or agreeing to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to return to the country. Oil prices reduced their losses, which were more than 1% today, Tuesday, continuing losses from the previous session, amid indications of some progress in returning crude oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz after talks between the United States and Iran. Brent crude futures fell $0.47, or 0.60%, to $77.43 per barrel by 08:18 GMT, and US West Texas Intermediate crude fell $0.30, or 0.41%, to $73.56 per barrel. Prices fell by more than 3% yesterday, Monday, after the United States granted Iran a 60-day exemption from sanctions following initial talks, and officials reported a decline in hostilities in Lebanon as part of the broader agreement, according to Reuters.

Trump: If Iran wants trouble, let it pursue nuclear weapons
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/June 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump reiterated his assertion that Iran had agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons, warning that any attempt to return to this path would lead to new "trouble." Trump stated that the Iranians had agreed, as part of the recent understandings, not to possess nuclear weapons, adding: "If Iran wants trouble, let it pursue nuclear weapons." Furthermore, President Trump said that his administration seeks to reach a fair agreement with Iran, adding that the United States and Iran are getting along well. He also confirmed that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency will enter Iran "at the appropriate time," referring to the arrangements related to monitoring the Iranian nuclear program following the recent understandings between Washington and Tehran. Trump's remarks come as the United States and Iran seek to solidify the understandings reached during recent negotiations, which include monitoring measures for Iran's nuclear activities. In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran's defense capabilities are not up for discussion, asserting that Iran's missile program was not and "never" part of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Pezeshkian stated that Tehran will not negotiate its defense capabilities with any party, maintaining that security and stability in the region must be based on dialogue and regional cooperation. Meanwhile, Trump noted that oil prices are declining, reflecting improved conditions regarding maritime navigation and energy supplies in the region following the US-Iranian understandings. Global markets had experienced sharp fluctuations in recent months due to the war and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, before prices began to fall as fears of widespread supply disruptions subsided. The Iranian nuclear program remains at the forefront of the issues raised between the two sides, with Washington continuing to emphasize the importance of international inspections, while Tehran maintains its refusal to discuss its military or missile capabilities.

Trump says Iran agreed to nuclear inspections, Tehran denies US claims
Reuters/23 June ,2026
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into “infinity,” despite Tehran’s denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States. Washington agreed to waive sanctions on Iran for 60 days from Monday after the first round of talks under a nascent peace deal agreed last week on ending more than three months of war. US Vice President JD Vance said the talks with Iranian officials in the Swiss mountain resort of Burgenstock laid a good foundation for a final accord and that Tehran had agreed to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country. But Iran denied it had begun discussions on its nuclear program at the talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, and said it had not agreed to invite back International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.
Iran says it will decide alone on assets’ use
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday Iranian officials had not held a meeting with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Switzerland and had no plans for the UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Iran’s damaged nuclear facilities.Trump hit back on Tuesday at what he said were Iran’s “protestations and false statements.”“Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!),” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He also said any Iranian assets unfrozen under the deal would be placed in an escrow account and used to buy food and medical supplies from the US “including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers.”Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva had earlier on Tuesday denied there had been any such agreement. “Iran is the only country to decide what to do with its assets, which are going to be defrozen, and so I reject any claim about that if there would be any role for any other country to have an influence on those decisions or on those processes,” Ali Bahreini told reporters.
Roadmap for talks
The conflicting statements highlighted the uncertainty facing efforts to halt a war that has upended the Middle East. On Monday, the sides agreed on a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies blockaded by Iran during the war. In the first of several steps to provide economic relief to Iran, the US Treasury announced a waiver until August 21 on sanctions, allowing Tehran to sell oil and related products and receive payment for them. Bahreini said “good progress” had been made in the talks and that two working groups would be established in coming days to focus on the removal of sanctions and Iran’s nuclear activities. He told reporters five parts of the initial deal need to be fully implemented before negotiations begin on the nuclear dossier and any role for the IAEA.
Conflict in Lebanon
The ambassador said Lebanon was an “unquestionable” part of the interim accord between the US and Iran, and that it included the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
A ceasefire has largely held in southern Lebanon since Sunday, but Lebanon’s Civil Defense and state media said Israeli gunfire had killed two people there on Tuesday. Hezbollah said the incident violated the ceasefire. Israel has said it will maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon and continue to act to “neutralize” threats against Israeli soldiers and citizens. Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon have killed thousands of people and displaced millions. Israel and Lebanon began a new round of talks in Washington on Tuesday, with Beirut determined to press ahead with direct negotiations even as they appear to be overshadowed by Iran’s decision to make Lebanon part of its talks with the US. Lebanon’s presidency said Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a call that Washington was following up on agreements reached in Switzerland, including plans to establish a joint cell comprising the US, Lebanon and Iran to help consolidate the Lebanon ceasefire and monitor implementation of related steps. The presidency said arrangements for a mechanism to firm up the truce and monitor its implementation were being discussed. Tanker traffic through Hormuz started to pick up on Monday, although Iran and Oman suggested in a joint statement that there may be costs involved in using the strait, whose closure pushed up oil prices and global inflation. Oman and Iran said a joint working group would seek agreement on administrating navigation in the strait, the services provided and associated costs. Any arrangement, they said, must respect their “sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
Political liability for Trump
Oil prices have fallen since the interim deal was reached, with crude prices dropping further on Tuesday after settling 3 percent lower on Monday. The war with Iran, which started with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has become a political liability at home for Trump and his fellow Republicans in Congress as midterm elections loom in November. Opinion polls have shown public frustration over a rise in gas prices since the war began, and Trump faces pressures from Republicans who want Iran’s nuclear program shut down. Iran has limited IAEA inspections since the US and Israel launched their first airstrikes last year, and suspended them when war broke out. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Iran will be ‘only country’ to determine how to use unfrozen assets: Ambassador
Agencies/June 23/2026
Tehran alone will decide how to use its frozen assets once they are unfrozen under a US-Iranian deal towards ending the Middle East war, an Iranian ambassador said Tuesday, contradicting US claims.
As part of the deal under negotiation, Washington has agreed to release $12 billion in frozen funds to Iran, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday, and temporarily suspend sanctions on oil from the Islamic Republic.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that Iranian assets had not yet been unfrozen as part of the deal and that, if they were, they could be used to buy US goods such as soybeans and would not fund terrorism. Ali Bahreini, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, rejected that. “Iran is the only country who will decide what to do with its assets, which are going to be defrozen,” he told reporters at a briefing in Geneva hosted by the UN correspondents’ association ACANU. “I reject any claim by (Washington) about that there should... be any role for any other country to have an influence on those decisions or on those processes.”Iran has been subject to asset freezes and sweeping sanctions by the United States and others for much of its history since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Bahreini also reported good progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran during peace deal talks in Switzerland. “Our colleagues continue to discuss in very good talks yesterday at technical level,” Bahreini said, adding that two working groups will be established within the coming days to discuss the removal of sanctions against Iran, and issues related to Iranian nuclear activities.

Iran says UN watchdog will not be allowed to inspect bombed nuclear sites
AFP/23 June ,2026
Iran said Tuesday that inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog would not be given access to its nuclear sites that were bombed during the war with Israel and the United States last year. “We have not had a meeting with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do we have any plans for the agency to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities damaged by the US and Zionist military aggression,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP. On Monday US Vice President JD Vance had said Iran would allow UN nuclear inspectors to return, calling it “a major milestone... and the first step in permanently denuclearizing” Iran. It followed talks between the foes in Switzerland mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. In June last year a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which the United States later joined, saw Washington bomb three nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Oman and Iran to pursue talks on managing navigation in Strait of Hormuz
Reuters/23 June ,2026
Oman and Iran agreed on Tuesday to press on with discussions about the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including maritime services in the strategic waterway and the costs associated with them. In a joint statement issued after talks in Muscat, the two countries said a joint working group involving their foreign ministries would be formed to continue the discussions and that they would consult other littoral states and relevant parties. The move appears to implement a provision of the memorandum of understanding signed last week that calls for Iran to hold talks with Oman and other Gulf coastal states on the future management of navigation and maritime services in the strait, a vital waterway for global oil supplies. The agreement was announced following a visit by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and held talks with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. In the statement, Oman and Iran, the two states bordering the strait, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safe passage through the waterway in accordance with international law while underlining sovereignty over their territorial waters. Since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in February, the strait has been largely closed to commercial shipping. The United States blockaded Iranian ports after Iran started effectively blocking the strait. Oman and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to the strait being a secure and open route for international navigation and to promoting maritime safety, freedom of navigation and regional stability.

Shahbaz Sharif: We Will Continue Our Efforts Until Lasting Peace is Achieved in the Region
Riyadh - Al-Arabiya.net/June 23, 2026
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif affirmed that his country will continue its diplomatic efforts until lasting peace is achieved in the region, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and negotiation in addressing regional crises. Sharif's remarks came during his meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad, the latter's first official visit to Pakistan since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States, brokered by Pakistan. Sharif expressed his hope that the ongoing technical negotiations between Tehran and Washington would lead to a sustainable agreement that strengthens regional stability, stressing that Islamabad will continue to play its role in supporting peace efforts. In a related development, Prime Minister Sharif announced that he will travel to Iran next week to meet with Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a move reflecting continued political coordination between the two countries following the recent negotiations. According to a joint statement carried by the Iranian news agency IRNA, Pakistani officials welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States, considering it an important step towards reducing tensions in the region. During his meeting with Pezeshkian, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari affirmed his country's support for dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means of resolving regional and international conflicts. He noted that the Iranian president's visit reflects the strength of the historical ties between the two countries and their shared desire to enhance cooperation in the coming period. For his part, Pezeshkian expressed his appreciation for Pakistan's role in supporting dialogue and peace initiatives, emphasizing that relations with Islamabad are a key priority in Iranian foreign policy. He added that Tehran looks forward to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in the political, economic, and security spheres, as well as strengthening coordination on regional issues. The joint statement described the visit as the beginning of "a new chapter of strategic cooperation" between the two countries, in light of escalating regional challenges and efforts to promote stability in South Asia and the Middle East. Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad at the head of a high-level delegation, where he was received by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, for a one-day visit that included discussions on bilateral relations and regional developments.

UN maritime body says to begin evacuating sailors in Gulf
AFP/23 June ,2026
The UN’s International Maritime Organization said Tuesday it will begin evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf following a US-Iran deal aimed at ending the Middle East war.“This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry,” IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.“We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations,” he added. Shipping traffic has picked up since Iran and the United States agreed last week to re-open the crucial shipping route under an agreement to end the war. Two temporary routes through the strait could be used under the evacuation plan, with vessels being contacted individually for further instructions, according to Oman’s notice to mariners provided by the IMO. The IMO said it will issue a daily report on the number of ships leaving the region safely.Iranian forces had effectively closed off the strait after US and Israeli strikes sparked the war on February 28. The closure of the strait during the war drove up global oil prices and choked off shipments of energy and crucial commodities such as fertiliser.At least 36 commodity vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, a record level of traffic since the beginning of the war, according to data from the Kpler platform.“After months of hardship and distress for thousands of innocent seafarers, and negative impact for the whole world, I welcome with deep satisfaction the peace agreement concluded between the United States and Iran,” Dominguez said Tuesday. He added that the deal marks “a decisive step towards restoring maritime security and bringing to an end the unacceptable attacks against civilian shipping.”

Tehran Gets Three-Day Holiday for Ali Khamenei Funeral
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Iran announced Tuesday three days of public holidays in the capital Tehran for late supreme leader Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies, state television reported."The farewell ceremony and prayers for the martyred leader's body will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 4th and 5th, in Tehran's Grand Mosalla, and the funeral will be held on Monday, July 6th, and Tehran province will be off for these three days," Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Hassan Hassanzadeh, in charge of the ceremonies, was quoted as saying.
Earlier, state media said Tehran would be on holiday on July 4 and 5, while the rest of the country will join it on July 6. Tehran authorities expect an attendance of around 20 million.The northern city of Qom will also host a tribute on July 7. Ali Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 9 in the northeastern city of Mashhad, his birthplace. These two cities will also observe public holidays. Neighboring Iraq has scheduled ceremonies for July 8. The funeral was originally planned for March but was postponed due to the war in the Middle East, which was triggered by the US-Israeli attacks in February that killed Khamenei. Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba succeeded his father as supreme leader in early March, becoming the third person to hold the position since the regime was established in 1979. Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the bombing that killed his father and other officials. He has not been seen in public since his appointment and communicates solely through official statements.

Rubio Says US Will Not Accept Iranian Tolls on Hormuz
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Washington's top diplomat insisted Tuesday that the US would not accept any attempt to impose tolls or fees on Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway where the UN said it would begin evacuating thousands of sailors stranded by the Middle East war . The US and Iran have signed a preliminary deal to halt the war, and concluded a first round of talks in Switzerland as part of a 60-day negotiation period to settle outstanding issues like sanctions relief and the fate of Tehran's nuclear program. An Iranian blockade that began early in the conflict choked off maritime traffic through the Hormuz strait -- sending global oil prices surging -- but crossings have begun to rise again since the US-Iran deal was inked. Iran has repeatedly maintained it will retain control over the waterway, including on Tuesday, when it and Oman said in a joint statement that they would study the administration of the trade route and the costs to be charged for services provided, insisting on their sovereignty over the strait. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, kicking off a regional tour, reiterated Washington's position that such an arrangement would be unacceptable.
"It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway," he said from Abu Dhabi, adding that he believed "all the countries in this region would agree". Tehran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had earlier insisted the Strait of Hormuz "will never return" to the pre-war status quo, despite the foes agreeing to set up communication lines to keep it open.
Muscat meeting -
Oman and Iran agreed on Tuesday to press on with discussions about the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint statement issued after talks in Muscat, they said a joint working group involving their foreign ministries ‌would be ‌formed to continue the discussions and ‌that they ⁠would consult other ⁠littoral states and relevant parties. The move appears to implement a provision of the memorandum of understanding signed last week that calls for Iran to hold talks with Oman and other states on the future management of ⁠navigation and maritime services in the strait, ‌a vital waterway ‌for global oil supplies. The agreement was announced following a ‌visit by Speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who met Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and held talks with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi. In the statement, Oman and ‌Iran, the two states bordering the strait, reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring ⁠safe ⁠passage through the waterway in accordance with international law while underlining sovereignty over their territorial waters. Since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in February, the strait has been largely closed to commercial shipping. The United States blockaded Iranian ports after Iran started effectively blocking the strait. Oman and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to the strait being a secure and open route for international navigation and to promoting maritime safety, freedom of navigation and regional stability. The head of the UN's International Maritime Organization, meanwhile, said it would begin evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded by the Hormuz blockade in cooperation with Iran, Oman and the United States, adding it had "secured the necessary safety guarantees". Traffic through the strait on Monday reached the highest level since the start of the war, according to two maritime tracking platforms, representing just over 40 percent of the normal peacetime level of about 120 vessels per day.

Without its missiles, Iran would be ‘just like Gaza,’ president says
Al Arabiya English/24 June ,2026
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said that, without its missiles, his country would have ended up “just like Gaza,” insisting that its ballistics program was non-negotiable. “If the missiles we have for our defense did not exist, Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young,” he said during a visit to Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between Tehran and Washington seeking a permanent end to the Middle East war. “We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities,” he added. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meanwhile confirmed that the preliminary agreement signed by the US and Iran, alongside the mediating parties, made no mention of ballistic missiles. Tehran fired hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones at its Gulf neighbors and Israel during the war that was sparked by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran’s missiles were initially developed to compensate for its weak air defenses during the war with Iraq in the 1980s, and have since only gained range and accuracy. Israel, located 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away from Iran, has longed viewed the program as an existential threat. Before the war, the United States had sought to include the ballistic missile program, as well as Tehran’s support for armed proxies, in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activity. In recent days, US President Donald Trump had appeared to soften his stance on the missiles issue. “I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some,” he said last week at the G7 summit in France. With AFP

Denmark to join mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
AFP/23 June ,2026
Denmark will take part in the international maritime mission set up by France and Britain to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz, the Danish government said on Tuesday. “This will involve a contribution including a group of interpreters, drone capabilities, staff officers as well as the possibility of mobilizing expertise in the cyber domain,” Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus told reporters, declining to provide further details on the size of the contribution. The aim is “to strengthen maritime security and guarantee freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea,” according to a bill submitted to the Danish parliament which is expected to pass before the end of the week. At least 37 commodity carriers transited the strait on Monday, a record volume of maritime traffic since the start of the Middle East war, according to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler, nearly a week after the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. France and Britain, together with other countries, have proposed an international mission to clear mines and secure the strategic passage, to be deployed after the conclusion of a US-Iran deal. The memorandum of understanding signed last week by Washington and Tehran, provides for the reopening of the strait free of charge.

UN Resolution Urges Accountability for Attacks on Peacekeepers
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
The UN ‌Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution aimed at strengthening accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers, amid concern over rising violence and low prosecution rates. The move follows a series of deadly incidents targeting UN personnel, including the killing of seven peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon after a ‌fresh round of ‌fighting broke out between ‌Israel ⁠and Hezbollah in early ⁠March. The resolution, drafted by Denmark and Pakistan and co-sponsored by 152 countries, passed unanimously. It urges countries hosting UN peacekeepers to take "all necessary measures" to investigate and prosecute those responsible for attacks ⁠on UN personnel. It says prosecution ‌rates have remained ‌low and that accountability is essential to ‌prevent future attacks. While reaffirming that host ‌states bear primary responsibility for the safety of UN personnel, it urges all parties to cooperate with investigations. The text asks the UN ‌secretary-general to designate "a senior focal point" within the UN to ⁠coordinate ⁠efforts to improve accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. It also encourages troop- and police-contributing countries to deploy investigators, at the request of host states, to assist inquiries and calls for an annual UN progress report on investigations and prosecutions. The council said attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and expressed its intention to consider further steps to strengthen accountability for them.

Denmark Reopens Embassy in Tehran
Agencies/June 23/2026
Denmark has reopened its embassy in Tehran more than three months after closing it due to the conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry announced on Tuesday. "In light of the improvement in the security situation in Iran, the embassy in Tehran is reopening its doors," the Danish diplomatic service said in a statement."The Danish ambassador to Iran has been working on the embassy premises since June 19," it added.Italy's embassy in Tehran, which had also been closed for more than three months, reopened its doors on Friday. Denmark ordered the temporary closure of its embassy in Iran on March 10 because of the security situation in the country.

Lavrov Says Russia Ready to Resume Talks with Ukraine from Point Where They Left Off
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia was ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine from the point where they left off. "We are ready ‌to talk ‌with Kyiv, ‌as ⁠we have always ⁠been," Lavrov told reporters, referring to talks that took place in Istanbul soon after the start ⁠of the war in ‌2022 ‌and were resumed in 2025. However, ‌he did not ‌signal any shift in Moscow's demand, rejected by Kyiv, for Ukraine to ‌surrender the remaining part of the Donbas region ⁠that ⁠it has successfully defended from Russian forces. The last US-mediated peace talks took place in February, before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.

Russia strikes kill nine in Ukraine
AFP/23 June ,2026
Russian strikes killed nine people across Ukraine on Tuesday, including six in the central Dnipropetrovsk region that borders the front line, local authorities said. Moscow and Kyiv have intensified attacks in recent weeks, as US-led talks on ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II remain effectively frozen. In Kryvyi Rig, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, “two men aged 25 and 34 and a 54-year-old woman were killed,” said Dnipropetrovsk region governor Oleksandr Ganzha. Ganzha posted images showing the site of the strike, with smoldering rubble and the charred shell of a destroyed building. Separate Russian attacks on the region killed three others, while strikes on the southern regions of Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson killed one person each, regional authorities said. Russia launched 135 drones at Ukraine overnight, 118 of which were shot down, Ukraine’s air force said. Russia has pummeled Ukraine with near-daily air barrages of drones and missiles throughout its invasion, now in its fifth year.Ukraine has stepped up its own strikes, frequently hitting oil depots and refineries in Russia that it says are used to fund the war.

Egypt-Syria Meetings Give Rapprochement New Momentum
Asharq Al-Awsat/June 23/2026
A series of recent meetings between Egyptian and Syrian officials has given momentum to rapprochement between the two countries, observers said, particularly after a dispute over Syria’s diplomatic mission in Cairo was resolved. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani on Monday on the sidelines of an Arab League meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman. In a statement on Tuesday, Egypt’s foreign ministry said the two ministers had affirmed “the depth of the historic ties between Egypt and Syria ... and the importance of building on the visit made by the Syrian foreign minister to Cairo in early May.”
They welcomed plans to hold the second Egyptian-Syrian government meeting at the senior official level, with ministries and agencies responsible for trade and investment in both countries participating, to discuss practical steps to boost economic cooperation.
“Relations with Egypt are moving along their natural path, and Syria is keen to develop them,” Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, Director of the Arab and Regional Affairs Department at Syria’s foreign ministry, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The two countries had held talks in recent weeks after Egypt raised reservations over names proposed by Syria to represent its diplomatic mission in Cairo, delaying arrangements for the mission’s arrival. The issue was resolved after Syria put forward another nominee, Yahya Diab, to lead its mission in Egypt.Amr al-Shobaki, an Egyptian political analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said regional challenges made it necessary to develop Egyptian-Syrian ties. He said cultural, social and political links between the two peoples were strong, adding that Egyptian authorities “had concerns more than disagreements with the new governing system in Syria, given Egypt’s well-known experience with political Islam.”“Those concerns are being gradually overcome according to two basic principles: respect for each country’s experience and political model, and non-interference in the affairs of the other,” he added. He said Egypt had already established those principles in its relationship with Türkiye.“The successive Egyptian-Syrian meetings point to an improvement in relations according to the same two principles,” he said. In late April, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Arab-European Consultative Summit held in Cyprus. Media outlets in Cairo and Damascus said at the time that the two had held “friendly” discussions on regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation.
Damascus hosted the first Egyptian-Syrian economic and investment forum in January, with the participation of leaders and business figures from the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce. The forum aimed to build active partnerships between the two countries and explore cooperation in trade, industry, services, infrastructure and reconstruction.

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on 23-24 June/2026
What Comes After the U.S.–Iranian Negotiations?
Colonel Charbel Barakat/June 23/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155491/
Following the devastation of Iran's military and economic capabilities on all fronts, President Trump staged a theatrical display, granting its leadership certain tools to claim that the Mullah regime still holds crucial keys influencing the course of events, thereby rendering negotiations with it necessary. In his signature style—balancing erratic statements that display a semblance of recklessness and haste with meticulous, practical steps—he mastered drawing new blueprints to resolve the conflict. He did not claim victory, even though he achieved it decisively, conclusively, and with virtually no human casualties (a factor that has always haunted the American side). Nor did he claim to overthrow the regime he had previously vowed to get rid of, nor did he provide his primary ally, Israel, with material to gloat over the region's nations, which remain apprehensive about cooperating with it—something he had championed in his plans for shaping a New Middle East.
Instead, he integrated all these nations, from Pakistan to Turkey and Egypt, into the preparation for negotiations. This was done so they could witness the birth of a new framework of relations. Built and sustained for years under United States supervision, this framework will help control security issues—particularly the game of terrorism—and drive toward stability and fruitful cooperation, the practical importance of which everyone will discover firsthand, rather than just theoretically.
Iran, whose Mullah regime spearheaded Shiite extremism while backing Sunni "Muslim Brotherhood" extremism—and, of course, maintained constant mobilization for war against Israel—served as the primary catalyst for pooling all the malice and "resistance" forces that have operated, and continue to operate, to destabilize surrounding countries. This Iran has fallen in a war initiated by Israel with United States backing. Its Arab neighbors in the Gulf states alone bore the brunt of it, as the "Free World" neither embraced President Trump's theories nor took the initiative to cooperate in settling the battle. Consequently, it now appears that the decisions of war and peace rest in his hands alone, and he is the one dictating the parameters of maneuver within the game.
Iran's demands and Qalibaf's statements regarding the situation in Lebanon are merely an indicator of winding down the operations of its proxy, Hezbollah, just as it had initiated them. Iran is responsible for nurturing, ideologizing, organizing, arming, and primarily funding it, and perhaps also for its secondary supply lines from global drug trafficking revenues and other illicit activities. Therefore, no one is better equipped than Iran to dissolve the group, compel the total surrender of its weapons, hollow it out of substance, and steer the Shiite community toward being more compliant and less demanding as Lebanon recovers its health. This is especially true since Lebanon's anticipated maritime wealth and its openness toward its neighbor, Israel, will contribute to its stability in the near future.
What Iran will do in Lebanon—cleaning up the mess left by its forty-year hegemony—requires extensive effort and intelligence to grasp the finer details. Iran alone can bring this to a close by handing over wanted lists, intelligence on warehouses, and weapon inventories, especially since it will order these factions to implement the agreements without any objection, given that the regime is no longer capable of maneuvering or manipulation. From here, we see the profound
confidence displayed by American officials when discussing Iran and the ongoing negotiations, and even expressions of gratitude and appreciation for the efforts it is making to secure regional stability.
As for the practical details on the ground, particularly on the Lebanese front, the Lebanese state will continue to negotiate with Israel in Washington along a separate track. This track will map the future of relations between the two neighbors, which will be highly interactive, featuring open borders and economic and cultural cooperation that will reverberate across the entire Middle East. The South, currently devastated, will enjoy immense prosperity and reconstruction sponsored by international frameworks and modern execution, reflecting progress and advancement in all fields. This will make Southerners forget the periods of war and destruction they endured, placing them once again on the map of the modern world across all urban, economic, and commercial sectors. Furthermore, the opening of the job market inside Iran might be one aspect of the prosperity awaiting those who survived, mastered the Persian language, cooperated with the Iranians, and understood their methods of management and business.
Thus, when we reach the practical aftermath of the negotiations—which will be organized by American companies operating in Iran and the rest of the region, aiming to sustain stability, distribute wealth, and build modern systems—the world will thank the historic decision of Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Netanyahu and United States President Mr. Trump for that bold initiative to strike the Mullah regime and end its dominance over the arena, a dominance that seemed to be the very obstacle preventing any progress in this Greater Middle East.
Welcome to the coming peace, which will be joined by all nations of the region, led by Israel. It will stand as the fruition of the efforts exerted by the United States and the capital deployed to execute the most significant "clean" military operation in more than a century of human history

US-Iran talks show promise, but the hardest part lies ahead
Cornelia Meyer/Al Arabiya English/23 June ,2026
US negotiators led by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian representatives headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf convened in Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort to iron out discrepancies in the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The negotiations were facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan, which acted as mediators throughout the process and helped bring the parties to an agreement.
What we know so far
Pakistan and Qatar said the negotiations were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Building on the MoU, the parties established a high-level committee tasked with providing political oversight, with the aim of reaching a final agreement within 60 days.
The Strait of Hormuz was front and center. A direct line of communication was established between the parties to prevent incidents in the waterway, which is to be reopened immediately. Iran is obliged to remove mines, while the United States will lift its naval blockade within 30 days.
The communication also reaffirmed the cessation of military operations in Lebanon, as stipulated in the MoU, supported by a deconfliction mechanism between the parties. The nuclear issue remains difficult. The international community does not want Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. At the same time, Pakistan, the key mediator in the agreement, supports Iran’s right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Negotiations have now moved to technical teams, which will remain at the Swiss resort throughout the week.
What it means
These negotiations have been positive, and it is good to see an MoU in place. It is always good when the guns fall silent. However, as is so often the case, the devil is in the details, and many hurdles remain before a sustainable peace can be achieved. The importance of the Strait of Hormuz to the global economy cannot be overstated. It is critical to the flow of crude oil, refined products, LNG, fertilizer, aluminum, helium and other commodities. Global oil inventories are perilously close to depletion. Over the past four months, oil prices have only been kept from reaching extreme levels through the use of “borrowed barrels” from existing inventories. Once those inventories are exhausted, there is no additional oil to draw upon. In that context, the agreement could not have come soon enough. There is, however, little reason for celebration just yet. Ships are in the wrong locations, and many oil fields were forced to shut production because countries ran out of storage capacity. Restarting production will take time, given the complexity of the industrial processes involved. According to Rystad Energy, between 85 percent and 90 percent of oil flows are expected to be restored by the fourth quarter of 2026, with full normalization likely by the first quarter of 2027. That assessment applies primarily to oil. LNG presents a greater challenge. Iranian strikes damaged around 17 percent of Qatar’s LNG production capacity, along with infrastructure intended to support future expansion. Restoring that capacity will take considerably longer.
Ultimately, ships will once again transit the Strait of Hormuz, which is undoubtedly positive. The real test, however, will be how many vessels choose to enter the strait. Much will depend on insurance costs and market confidence. In other words, while recent developments are encouraging, full normalization has not yet been achieved. Oil demand will rise sharply as inventories are replenished. One positive outcome is that OPEC+ can once again resume its role in ensuring adequate market supply, as its spare production capacity has effectively been trapped behind the strait during the crisis.
Where we go from here
As encouraging as recent developments have been, we should remain aware of potential pitfalls.
There may be disruptions in the reopening of the strait, as demonstrated over the weekend when uncertainty over whether it was open or closed repeatedly triggered volatility in oil futures markets.
Lebanon remains a key issue. Israel is not a party to any of the agreements reached so far, which presents a significant risk. A cessation of hostilities in Lebanon forms part of the 14-point MoU and is an issue Iran considers a red line. Conflicting statements regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz have already produced sharp swings in oil prices, highlighting the fragility of the situation.
The nuclear issue remains particularly sensitive. Whatever form a final agreement takes, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made clear during a fireside discussion at the European Council on Foreign Relations that verification will be essential. The negotiating parties will need to find a credible and neutral mechanism to ensure compliance. Finally and very importantly, as Prince Faisal stressed, regional powers must be included in any process aimed at securing a lasting peace. All in all, developments in Burgenstock have been positive. There are, however, several potential pitfalls ahead. Put simply, the deal is not done until it is done.

Who Will Fail the Other: Trump or Netanyahu?
Abdul Wahab Badrakhan/Al-Watan/June 23, 2026
In Washington, the agreement with Tehran is facing sharp criticism. The president and vice president have rushed to its defense, while the secretary of state has made fewer appearances, perhaps because he is distancing himself from the controversy due to his presidential ambitions. The fact that it is not final but rather a "memorandum of understanding" has not mitigated the attack on the agreement. Assessments worldwide have concluded that the terms of the memorandum are politically and economically advantageous to the Iranian regime. As for the claim that upcoming negotiations on the nuclear program will rectify the situation, experts respond that it is difficult to imagine a significant difference (worthy of war) between the restrictions and conditions of the "Obama agreement" and what the "Trump agreement" might offer.
Reaching the 2015 agreement took years of negotiations, during which the Iranian regime managed to gain advantages by exploiting Barack Obama's instinctive aversion to the Gulf states, as well as his eagerness and insistence on containing the nuclear program. The agreement was born amidst American acquiescence to Iran's expanding regional influence, particularly in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Compared to these gains, the nuclear concessions (enrichment and monitoring conditions) seemed insignificant. This time, Donald Trump preempted any potential agreement with two wars that destroyed a significant portion of Iran's nuclear facilities and other military capabilities. It became natural to expect Tehran to be more realistic and acknowledge that its nuclear ambitions had cost it dearly and would cost it even more if it chose to maintain them. Previously, Obama gambled that his agreement (without war) would enable "moderates" to rise to the forefront of the Iranian regime, but the agreement's effects did not unfold as he anticipated. Now, Trump believes that "rationalists" are in power and that he is negotiating with them, but he forgets that they have dictated the timeline to suit them and has failed to acknowledge that they exploited his war's predicament in the Strait of Hormuz to impose their conditions, knowing that Trump wanted to "end the war" even if he had the capacity to continue it. J.D. Vance was among the American officials who worked on the carefully orchestrated leaks to promote the "agreement," especially since he was known for being the least enthusiastic about the war. Vance claimed that the "agreement" included an Iranian pledge "not to support terrorist groups," referring to those regional proxies of Iran that participated in the war alongside it, whether by launching missiles and drones from Iraq against the Gulf states, or by igniting a war that devastated much of southern Lebanon. After the text of the "agreement" was published, it became clear that it imposed no conditions on Tehran regarding its proxies. After the 2015 agreement, and before any new agreement, the pro-Iranian militias had gone so far in their destructive activities that many considered them the real "nuclear bomb" produced by Iran. This led to the twofold question: why, given this situation, was Tehran (despite its denials) pursuing a nuclear weapon, and what would it do if it actually possessed one? The answer lay at the heart of the political discourse, explicitly stated rather than implied. There was no doubt that the Islamic Republic aspired to revive the Shah's legacy and go even further, seeking this weapon to dominate and intimidate the Gulf region, and to hegemony over the Arab world in general. The prevailing view now is that the Memorandum of Understanding rehabilitates the regime to exercise this hegemony. This is its strategic objective, discussed by both junior and senior leaders of the "axis of resistance," who consider American influence the sole obstacle to its realization.
None of the Iranian leaders dared to call for prioritizing the people's interests and reconsidering this ambition, which has yielded nothing but American sanctions that have crippled the economy and hindered development, and ultimately brought about a devastating war that would have been even more catastrophic were it not for the mediation of the five Arab-Islamic states. From the Supreme Leader to the Speaker of Parliament, the primary concern has been to proclaim that standing firm against America constitutes a "victory," and that this "victory" means Iran emerged "stronger than it was before the war." Therefore, the countries of the region remain cautious in their assessments of the post-war period. They certainly welcomed the success of their efforts with Washington to end the war, but they know far more about Trump's negotiations with Iran than they do. Trusting either side is difficult. As in 2015, Israel does not want any agreement. After Benjamin Netanyahu managed to blackmail Obama and freeze the agreement in Congress, he was able to convince Trump, who was already convinced, to go to war with Iran. Returning from such a war is another matter entirely. The Trump administration recognized the errors and preferred a diplomatic agreement, but Netanyahu will work to undermine it. Some are wondering who will ultimately sabotage whom: Trump or Netanyahu? Iran, emerging stronger from the war, is offering dialogue with the Gulf states to dispel the existing ambiguity following the understanding between Tehran and Washington. The Gulf is well-positioned for dialogue and understanding, but it is waiting to see if Iran has finally accepted becoming a "normal state."

Iran, Like Hamas, Has No Intention of Fulfilling Trump's Peace Demands
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute./June 23, 2026
Iran's "more rational" and "far less radicalized " chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who signed the MOU electronically, afterwards appeared on television where he vowed to avenge the supreme leader's death with the "liberation of Jerusalem."
While the continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon was given as one explanation for the cancellation, it is now clear that senior members of the Trump administration have raised serious concerns about whether Iran has any genuine interest in negotiating a final peace deal.
Concerns that the Iranian regime, in particular, is not serious about negotiating an end to its nuclear activities intensified following reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Trump and other senior officials, prior to the signing of the memorandum, that evidence gathered by US intelligence agencies raised serious doubts about Iran's willingness to make the nuclear concessions the White House is seeking in any final deal.
As with Iran's approach to peace negotiations with the Trump administration on its nuclear programme, Hamas is trying to give the impression in public that it is being cooperative while behind the scenes it is making no effort to comply with the disarmament demands.
Who is supposed to stop them after Trump is no longer president? The Gulf Arab states have become used to importing labor for jobs they prefer not to do; being shot at might be added to that list. Whether the Trump administration can achieve what Trump would like remains to be seen...
Iran's "more rational" and "far less radicalized " chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who signed the MOU electronically, afterwards appeared on television where he vowed to avenge the supreme leader's death with the "liberation of Jerusalem." Pictured: Ghalibaf arrives for talks in Obburgen, Switzerland on June 21, 2026. (Photo by Urs Flueeler/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Hardly has the ink on the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding that US President Donald J. Trump signed with Tehran had a chance to dry than it has become abundantly clear that Iran has no serious intention of abiding by the agreement's demands -- namely abandoning its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and re-establishing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
At a press briefing on June 16 at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Trump gave an upbeat assessment of the current Iranian regime's willingness to negotiate, saying they "are very rational people," in contrast with Iran's rulers before the outbreak of the war, saying they were "totally irrational people and those people are now gone," following February's assassinations of many key regime figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ali Khamenei has subsequently been replaced by his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was evidently wounded injured in the attack that killed his father, and has not been seen in public since replacing his father. Even so, Trump said on June 17 that he believed Iran's newly-appointed Supreme Leader was "younger. I think more rational," while praising the new regime, declaring:
"I think they're very smart, I think they're far less radicalized, I think they're very good."
Iran's "more rational" and "far less radicalized " chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who signed the MOU electronically, afterwards appeared on television where he vowed to avenge the supreme leader's death with the "liberation of Jerusalem":
"[J]ustice for our Imam lies in the liberation of Jerusalem. A hundred Netanyahus are not worth the shoelace of our leader. We must stand with this sense of honor, this perspective, and this ideal, and carry out this mission."
Despite these positive remarks about Iran's interlocutors, Trump also accepted that there were no guarantees that the Iranians would act in good faith during the negotiations that are due to take place while the new 60-day ceasefire is in place, when key issues such as the future of Iran's nuclear programme and the future status of the Strait of Hormuz are supposed to be finalised.
The president insists that any backsliding on the part of Iran during the negotiations could result in the US resuming its military offensive against the mullahs.
"It's a memorandum of understanding," Trump said. "If it doesn't get done in 60 days, that's all right, we go back to bombing."
He promised that if Iran misbehaved he would "go back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head".
The prospects of the Trump administration completing a lasting agreement with Iran within the 60-day framework certainly do not bode well after the first round of talks between US and Iranian officials that were due to take place in Switzerland on Friday were cancelled.
While the continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon was given as one explanation for the cancellation, it is now clear that senior members of the Trump administration have raised serious concerns about whether Iran has any genuine interest in negotiating a final peace deal.
Concerns that the Iranian regime, in particular, is not serious about negotiating an end to its nuclear activities intensified following reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Trump and other senior officials, prior to the signing of the memorandum, that evidence gathered by US intelligence agencies raised serious doubts about Iran's willingness to make the nuclear concessions the White House is seeking in any final deal.
According to the Axios news website, the warnings were issued during a series of meetings held between Trump and senior advisers when they discussed intelligence gathered by several intelligence agencies that revealed internal discussions taking place within the Iranian regime about a potential peace deal were inconsistent with their public declarations on the issue.
Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were both said to have expressed reservations that Tehran could be persuaded to take the necessary steps required by the White House to end hostilities, especially on the nuclear issue.
A senior source with knowledge of the discussions told Axios, "The intelligence reflects that the Iranian intentions are not in line with their commitments under the deal," a source said.
The report is entirely consistent with Iran's previous approach to nuclear negotiations during the past two decades when, at the same time as regime negotiators have indicated a willingness to make concessions on key nuclear issues such as uranium enrichment, hardliners within the regime have maintained their efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
Trump's experience of making peace in Gaza should also serve as a warning about Iran's willingness to comply with his peace demands. One of the central requirements of Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict was that Hamas terrorists completely disarm and hand over administration of the territory to an international peacekeeping force.
Despite progress being made on a number of other issues, such as having secured the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, Hamas, which receives military support from Iran, has refused to comply with demands to disarm.
During the latest negotiations in Cairo on the issue, Hamas's latest response to mediators was interpreted as "an effective rejection" of the demand.
As with Iran's approach to peace negotiations with the Trump administration on its nuclear programme, Hamas is trying to give the impression in public that it is being cooperative while behind the scenes it is making no effort to comply with the disarmament demands.
A source familiar with the Cairo talks told the Times of Israel that Hamas is attempting through media reports to present its response as more cooperative, while "in practice it looks much closer to a no." The source added that the response cannot yet be categorized as "a formal rejection because the final proposal is not public... Hamas is still trying to avoid the core requirement, which is clear disarmament."
Despite mounting concerns about Trump's peace initiatives for both Gaza and Iran and the failure to achieve their objectives, the White House said that the American president remained committed to standing firm on his ultimate red line for Iran, namely that the mullahs would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. White House officials insisted the memorandum met all the red lines that Trump set out at the start of the Iran war, such as "ensuring that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, they cannot keep their highly enriched uranium, and they cannot hold the world's energy supply hostage."
Who is supposed to stop them after Trump is no longer president? The Gulf Arab states have become used to importing labor for jobs they prefer not to do; being shot at might be added to that list. Whether the Trump administration can achieve what Trump would like remains to be seen, not least because, as has happened on countless occasions in the past, the leaders of the Islamic Republic simply cannot be trusted to keep their word.
**Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
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Beirut: The Main Arena of Conflict with Iran
Nadim Koteich/Asas Media/June 23/2023 (Translated from Arabic by GPT)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/06/155498/
Iran, buoyed by the interim understanding with Washington, is experiencing the euphoria of what it considers a strategic victory, based on the survival of its regime from the unprecedented American and Israeli war waged against it. However, the propaganda discourse accompanying this euphoria, with Lebanon as its primary focal point before any other arena, fails to take into account that what we are dealing with are attempts to buy time, with the aim of postponing or dissipating larger explosions. The narratives of victory also collide with a thick wall of negative objective realities and deadly structural crises inside Iran. Lebanon is a candidate to become a principal testing ground for the limits of Iranian power, with the resulting heavy economic and political costs that will be paid in an attempt to dissipate the newly acquired Iranian morale.
Behind its rhetoric of strength and regional deterrence, Tehran faces two existential crises within its borders. According to 2026 reports, the Iranian economy has entered a phase of “free fall” as a result of the war, with the International Monetary Fund expecting a sharp economic contraction of 6.1% due to the paralysis that has struck productive sectors. At the same time, direct losses to infrastructure and factories caused by destruction have risen to more than US$270 billion, igniting catastrophic inflation in food and basic commodity prices that has reached 105%, placing millions of families under the burden of poverty and malnutrition.
A Lifeline?
The massive demonstrations of December 2025 and January 2026, triggered by the collapse of the rial and led by merchants of the “Grand Bazaar,” spread across more than 200 cities and constituted a death certificate for the regime’s ideological and traditional legitimacy after explicit slogans calling for its overthrow were raised. This near-total erosion of the popular support base, followed by the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February 2026 and the removal of most of the previous ruling elite, accelerated the end of the remnants of legitimacy carried by the old faces. As for the new military elite emerging from the ranks of second-tier commanders in the Revolutionary Guard, it appears more inclined to manage the post-war reality through a purely security-based doctrine, driven by a deep awareness that its continuation in power depends entirely on its ability to restrain a hungry street and to undertake the difficult reconstruction of military and commercial alliances based on mutual interests, amid the collapse of military prestige and the dissipation of economic capabilities.
This internal deadlock explains part of Iran’s insistence on prioritizing the Lebanon clause in the understanding document over other clauses. In light of the worsening domestic predicament, the external file becomes the regime’s only lifeline.
This means that Iran will seek to move forward through the southern Lebanon front and the Party’s arsenal, in order to prove that its “strategic depth” does not end at its borders and that it is still capable of threatening Israel’s interior and disrupting navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean, thereby securing itself a mandatory seat at the table of any international negotiations.
Conversely, Iran’s adversaries are investing this temporary de-escalation in conducting a comprehensive intelligence and military assessment of the true extent of the damage caused by the air strikes that targeted Iranian oil and military facilities, and in examining Iranian behavior in light of that damage. They also need to renew operational preparedness with offensive and defensive equipment and to develop new offensive plans for dealing with the Iranian challenge.
This de-escalation also comes at a critical time to allow the passage of the U.S. midterm elections in November 2026 with the least possible damage, as the Trump administration seeks to control the scale of its expected losses. Historically, the president’s party has often suffered partial or total losses in these elections. This is being done through presenting the curbing of Tehran as a decisive achievement.
What is certain is that Iran’s strategic file cannot tolerate a “frozen conflict” formula similar to Gaza, where a ceasefire was implemented while all provisions remained unresolved. The sensitivity of international shipping lanes and energy sources in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, together with Iran’s crossing of technical thresholds in its nuclear file, prevents the major powers from accepting a temporary but long-term status quo, for fear that freezing the conflict would grant Tehran a golden opportunity to produce a complete nuclear deterrent weapon.
The Gulf states firmly demand that any permanent agreement include genuine restrictions on Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, as well as an explicit clause stipulating “non-interference in internal affairs.”
At the Bottom of the Zero-Sum Equation?
In addition, the economic stability of the Gulf capitals, based on tourism, technology, and services, is incompatible with an environment that is permanently vulnerable to ignition. Therefore, the Gulf states firmly demand that any permanent agreement include real restrictions on Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, along with an explicit clause stipulating “non-interference in internal affairs.”
The Gulf states also reject bearing the strategic financial burden associated with reconstruction in Iran and maintain their position that they are not prepared to finance reconstruction in either Iran or Lebanon unless the strategic rules change, Iranian expansionism comes to an end in general, and the hijacking of political decision-making in Beirut in favor of Tehran ends in particular.
Lebanon thus finds itself at the deepest point of the zero-sum equation governing this regional struggle, where the urgent need either to secure Tehran’s political and military voice or to deny Iran that voice translates into a destructive economic and sovereign hemorrhage for the Lebanese state.
Tehran’s desire to demonstrate its strategic capabilities beyond its borders, and the efforts aimed at confining Iranian influence within those borders, inevitably pass through harming what remains of Lebanon’s state institutions, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
For this reason, the fundamental drivers of the conflict remain in place and are moving toward explosion as soon as the parties no longer need time to reorganize their ranks after the American elections. This is likely to leave Lebanon as the most tragic arena paying the price of the struggle of the “elephants” through its sovereignty, its economy, and its lost wealth lying at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on 23 June/2026
Mike Pence
Any final agreement with Iran must include:
Verified dismantling of the nuclear weapons program
Verified dismantling of the ballistic missile program
Ending support for terrorist proxies
Restoring Freedom of Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz
If Iran does not agree to those things, we should simply allow the Armed Forces of the United States and our Allies to end the threat, open the Strait and finish the job on our terms.🇺🇸

Danny Danon
https://x.com/dannydanon/status/2069044123064033652/video/1
Whenever he gets the chance, Zohran Mamdani, @NYCMayor, uses his public platform to attack the Jewish community and spread anti-Israel rhetoric. Mr. Mamdani, when you describe @AIPAC as “monsters moving millions in dark money to preserve power”, you are invoking some of the oldest and most blatant antisemitic tropes in history. The only real monster in this story is the hatred you continue to normalize.

Elissa el Hachem
Also “Hormuz is fully open”: “Iran has imposed a daily limit on the number of vessels allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a military source cited by Fars News Agency. The cap will fluctuate based on conditions.”

Rep Josh Gottheimer
The Lebanese people have made clear: they don't want to live under the boot of the Iranian regime. That's why @RepMikeLawler and I are introducing a bipartisan resolution demanding Iran’s proxy Hezbollah disarm and cease its attacks immediately. Lebanon's future belongs to the Lebanese people — not the mullahs in Tehran.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Buoyed by U.S. Iran MoU, Hezbollah has already launched its counterattack to retake the state back, below waging a campaign against Beirut Airport security chief Fadi Kfoury, who has blocked most of Hezbollah’s money and narcotics smuggling through the airport. If Iran’s MoU momentum is not reversed, it will not be long before Hezbollah retakes the whole state.

Mike Pence
https://x.com/Mike_Pence/status/2069109697781563545/video/1
When it comes to dealing with the Iranians, that old saying,"Trust, but verify," ought to be turned around to "Verify and never trust. I do believe the MOU with Iran falls far short of what the United States should be demanding after the brilliant efforts by our military in Operation Epic Fury.🇺🇸

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
The epitome of the world’s immorality is crying foul demanding Palestinian self determination, even when Palestinians have proven incapable of standing a government, while cheering for Iran usurping the sovereignty of Lebanon’s elected government.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
After Samir Geagea and Samy Gemayel, the third prominent Christian leader in Lebanon, Nadim Gemayel, comes out against the redundancy of adding Lebanon to the Iran-U.S. channel when Lebanon has its own channel with Israel. Except for Hezbollah’s Franjieh and Qatar’s Bassil, all Christian leaders and the majority of Christians refuse to be part of the Iranian talks with America, seeing them as Iranian infringement on their sovereignty and affairs.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Yours truly: The Palestinians chose to shoot themselves in the foot. They refused to surrender Hamas’s weapons and paid the price, losing roughly half of the Gaza Strip. Lebanon now appears headed down the same path, preserving Hezbollah’s arsenal at the cost of territory Israel is transforming into a depopulated security zone.

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
It’s not only that Mamdani is obnoxiously biased toward his Islamist tribe, but also that he is weaponizing local government by using a city mayor position to weigh in on foreign policy issues not within the purview of a mayor.

Prime Minister of Israel
https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/2069358137778331686/video/1
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Thursday, at Kibbutz Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion, with a reserve combat officers' course, and spoke with them about the various challenges in multiple arenas:
"I deeply appreciate the support we have received from our American friends, but we need to break free from dependency and build our own independent armaments network."
Full remarks. https://gov.il/en/pages/event-meet230626