On Friday, the Israeli military reported that it had eliminated 80 Hezbollah militants and targeted around 310 locations linked to the Iran-supported group in southern Lebanon over the past week.
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces indicated that these strikes were conducted “in coordination with ground operations along the frontline to dismantle terrorist networks and mitigate threats to both Israeli citizens and military personnel in the region.”
Despite a ceasefire agreement being reached between Israel and Lebanon last week, the Iran-backed Hezbollah swiftly dismissed the terms. Iran has previously stated that any peace negotiations involving the U.S. and Israel must encompass a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Trump on Thursday evening regarding the potential for a forthcoming peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, according to an announcement from Netanyahu’s office.
Although Israel is not a signatory to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for President Trump’s assurance that any final accord resulting from negotiations would include the elimination of enriched uranium, the disassembly of enrichment facilities, restrictions on missile production, and the halting of Iran’s support for its regional terrorist affiliates, as stated by Netanyahu’s office.
A U.S. official reported that Iran appeared to have attempted attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz early Friday morning. According to the official, U.S. forces successfully intercepted two Iranian attack drones.
Traffic through the strait remains ongoing, the official confirmed.
An Iranian official indicated on Thursday that a definitive decision regarding a peace agreement with the U.S. has not yet been reached.
“To date, Iran has not arrived at a conclusive stance on the agreement,” said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman for the foreign ministry, in a statement to Agence France-Presse.
This announcement followed President Trump’s earlier remarks claiming that the U.S. had achieved a “significant settlement” concerning the Iran conflict.
Sources familiar with diplomatic efforts informed CBS News that a letter of intent or memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran is expected to be signed early next week.
However, in response to Trump’s statements, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted an informed source close to the Iranian negotiation team who refuted the president’s assertion about an initial agreement, stating that “no text of the preliminary memorandum of understanding with the United States has been ratified.”
Iran’s Tasnim news agency highlighted that Trump had previously claimed a deal was imminent on 38 occasions over the last two months.
“Until Iran formally communicates regarding a possible understanding, any statements from Trump on this matter should be viewed in light of his past announcements,” the agency remarked.
The anticipated letter of intent or memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran is set to pave the way for further discussions on a lasting agreement. Sources indicated that the signing would initiate a 60-day period for negotiating the specifics of a U.S.-Iran accord, with the possibility of extending this timeframe as necessary.
The initial steps would focus on ensuring “freedom of trade” by clearing mines and opening the Strait of Hormuz. In principle, Iran would agree to a lockout of uranium enrichment for 15 to 20 years and would dismantle its nuclear facilities. In exchange for these commitments, Iran would receive phased financial relief aligned with its compliance.
