Category: Trump

That can’t be. That is simply not happening.

• Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says an agreement has been reached with the United States to release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds.
• Trump says Tehran agreed to allow international nuclear inspections and any released Iranian assets will be solely used to buy US agricultural products.

Tankers Continue Moving Through Strait of Hormuz Despite Iranian Threats

US and Iran can work together to reopen Strait of Hormuz, Ghalibaf says

Ghalibaf says US to release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds

So far, there has not been any direct statement from Iran on whether inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be let back into the country.

• Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says an agreement has been reached with the US to release $12bn in frozen Iranian funds.
• This comes after the US announced a temporary easing of sanctions to allow the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemicals until August 21.
• US President Donald Trump says Tehran has agreed to allow international nuclear inspections and that any released Iranian assets will be used to buy US agricultural products.
• Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon and “demolish” Hezbollah infrastructure.

Lebanon

A new round of US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon begins today in Washington and is due to last until Thursday.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Lebanon is represented by Ambassador Nada Moawad, while the Israeli delegation is headed by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. US officials are also participating in the talks.
• The negotiations mark the fifth round between the two sides.
• The latest discussions come after US-Iran negotiations resulted in a ceasefire agreement on June 19 and the creation of a “Lebanon de-confliction cell” tasked with supporting efforts to end Israeli attacks in the country. The ceasefire has largely held.
• Lebanon is seeking Israel’s withdrawal from the south of the country, where the Israeli military have established a so-called “buffer zone” that encompasses about 6 percent of Lebanese territory.
• Israel says it is seeking the “disarmament” of Hezbollah.
• Hezbollah says the talks should be limited to “mutual security” and that its weapons must be kept off the table.

Here’s what happened overnight:

• Iran says technical talks in Switzerland with the US have successfully concluded, and that the next phase of negotiations will involve the high-level political committee overseeing the mediation.
• Iran’s Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has defended the decision to hold talks with the US, saying Iranian delegates went to Switzerland to end the bloodshed in Lebanon.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir say Israeli troops will continue to occupy southern Lebanon.
• The UN says Sunday marked the first time its peacekeepers detected no air attacks in Lebanon since March 2.
• Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi reaffirms commitment to “toll-free passage” in the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iranian diplomats in Muscat.