Dubai, UAE — U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal to end the conflict with Iran could be reached soon, even as Tehran said negotiations had made “no tangible progress” and the U.S. House backed a resolution seeking to curb American military action against Iran.
Trump also told aides he would not resume all-out war with Iran unless Tehran killed U.S. troops, the Wall Street Journal reported, while U.S. Central Command denied an Iranian claim that it had targeted a U.S. military vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish pilot security zones in southern Lebanon under the control of the Lebanese armed forces, according to a joint statement after U.S.-mediated talks in Washington.
The two sides agreed to reconvene during the week of June 22 to discuss political and security issues aimed at reaching a broader agreement. Lebanon’s state media, however, reported that an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed a paramedic linked to Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Committee, underscoring continuing tensions despite diplomatic efforts.
The Iran conflict began in late February and has evolved into one of the most serious confrontations between Washington and Tehran in years, disrupting shipping routes and energy markets and raising concerns over regional stability. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and military activity around the Gulf have periodically threatened global oil supplies and pushed crude prices sharply higher.
The Lebanon front has become increasingly tied to the broader Iran crisis because of Tehran’s support for Hezbollah. Iran has repeatedly insisted that any lasting agreement with the United States must also address Israeli military operations in Lebanon, complicating efforts to negotiate separate ceasefires.
Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire for months despite multiple ceasefire attempts. Previous U.S.-brokered truces in April and May failed to fully halt hostilities, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The latest agreement is intended to place sensitive border areas under Lebanese army control and reduce Hezbollah’s military presence south of the Litani River.
The outcome of the Iran negotiations remains uncertain. While Trump has portrayed a deal as close, Tehran continues to demand guarantees on security and sanctions relief, and lawmakers in Washington are increasingly questioning the costs of a prolonged conflict ahead of November’s congressional elections.
