Iran Deal Obstacle
Iran-US Deal Faces Skepticism as Israel Rejects Lebanon Withdrawal Condition
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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared early Tuesday that any deal to end the 3.5-month war with the United States must include an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon — a condition Israel has flatly rejected. The statement, made at 4:50 a.m. EDT, threatens to derail a ceremonial signing planned for Geneva on Friday, according to AP.
The tentative agreement, announced by President Trump on June 14, centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Oil prices have already dropped from a peak of $126 per barrel in March to around $82 per barrel following the announcement, per The Guardian.
Iran Demands Israeli Pullback, Netanyahu Says No
Araghchi stated that "the end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part" of the deal. He warned that continued Israeli presence would violate the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, according to AP. The condition puts Washington in a bind — it signed a deal that one of its closest allies refuses to honor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back hard. He said Israel will stay in its Lebanon security zones "as long as necessary" and declared that "Trump's agreement does not bind us," according to AP. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir added that Israel is a "sovereign country" not subject to U.S. mandates.
A 3.5-Month War That Choked Global Oil Supply
The conflict began February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under "Operation Epic Fury." Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz on March 4, cutting off roughly 20% of global oil supplies and triggering an immediate energy crisis, according to AP.
President Trump authorized a naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13. The blockade cost Iran an estimated $4.8 billion to $5 billion in lost oil revenue, according to Axios. Trump claimed it drained Iran of $500 million per day. The Pentagon put the total U.S. war cost at $25 billion to $29 billion, though some independent estimates run closer to $50 billion, per CBS News.
Congress Skeptical, G7 Allies Push for Geneva Signing
Back in Washington, both parties want more details before the deal is finalized. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said he would wait for the full text. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reminded the White House that the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act requires a Congressional vote, according to NOTUS. Democratic senators called the agreement "opaque" and demanded transparency.
At the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, European allies are pushing Trump to keep the Geneva deal on track. Macron and others see it as a way to refocus attention on Ukraine, which has been sidelined by the Gulf conflict, per The Guardian. France and Britain are also moving ahead with a "strictly defensive" naval mission to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to AP.
FBI Disrupts Armed Plot Targeting White House UFC Event
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Tuesday morning that agents broke up a multi-state plot involving drones and snipers. The target was the "UFC Freedom 250" event held on the White House South Lawn on June 14 — the same night Trump announced the Iran deal. Five people were arrested, with 23 total individuals identified, according to AP.
The event drew roughly 4,300 attendees on the South Lawn and 85,000 more at the nearby Ellipse. The FBI first detected the threat on June 10, per PBS. The $60 million production went ahead as planned — and so did the terror plot, until agents moved in.
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