An Iran peace deal hung in the balance on June 14 as Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs, prompting President Trump to urge all sides to exercise restraint even as he predicted a historic agreement could be signed today. The strike threatened weeks of delicate negotiations aimed at ending a three-month conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and disrupted global energy markets.
The Israeli military said it conducted a “precise strike” on Hezbollah command infrastructure in southern Beirut in response to rocket fire from the Iran-backed militant group, according to statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Trump posted on Truth Social that the attack “should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a peace deal with Iran,” calling on all parties to “stand down” from fighting.
One of Iran’s leading negotiators, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the strike could undermine the entire negotiation process. “The Zionists’ incursion into Dahiyeh has once again shown that America either lacks the will to fulfil its commitments or the ability to do so,” Ghalibaf said on social media, suggesting the US and Israel were playing a “game of bad cop and good cop” that was “outdated.” He added: “If you lack the will and ability to fulfil your commitments, speaking of continuing the path is not possible.”
Trump announced that a draft memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran would be signed today, though Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed this timeline. The agreement would represent a significant step toward ending the war that began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes across Iran, according to reporting from Sky News and the BBC.
According to a senior Iranian official speaking to Reuters, the draft deal includes Iran’s commitment not to produce or acquire a nuclear weapon, a key demand from the Trump administration. The agreement also calls for Iran to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz—the critical waterway through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally transit—while the US lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Additional provisions include a 60-day negotiation period focused on Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, with the US agreeing to release $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets and waive oil sanctions for a specified period, according to reporting from Sky News.
The Israeli strike came despite an earlier ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah reached on June 1, under which Israel committed not to target Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah agreed not to attack Israel. That ceasefire has been repeatedly violated, with Israel conducting ongoing operations in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah rejecting the agreement as a “farce,” according to reporting from the Washington Post and multiple news outlets. The fragile arrangement has frayed as both sides have accused each other of violations, with Hezbollah continuing to rebuild its militant infrastructure and Israel expanding its military presence in Lebanese territory.
Military analyst Sean Bell told Sky News that Israel’s latest strike on Beirut risks “compromising the whole peace deal,” and warned that it remains unclear how far Netanyahu intends to go with military operations. “All of that is going to be a real test of Donald Trump’s influence or control over Benjamin Netanyahu over the coming days,” Bell said, noting that Trump now “finds himself desperately needing an off-ramp” from the escalating conflict.
Sources
- Sky News — Live coverage of Israel’s strike on Beirut, Trump’s statement calling for restraint, Iranian negotiator Ghalibaf’s response, and details of the draft deal including nuclear commitments, Strait of Hormuz reopening, and frozen assets
- BBC News — Reporting on Israel’s strikes in southern Lebanon, Iran’s foreign minister confirming deal progress, ceasefire terms agreed June 1, and Hezbollah’s rejection of the ceasefire agreement
- Reuters — Details from senior Iranian official on draft deal terms including Iran’s nuclear commitment, reopening of Strait of Hormuz, US sanctions relief, and $25 billion in frozen assets
- The Washington Post — Coverage of ceasefire violations, Hezbollah’s rejection of the agreement, and Israel’s expanded military operations in Lebanon
