Lebanon in flames: Trump seeks a negotiated solution as Israel advances and Europe demands a ceasefire

Macron praised the “determined efforts” of his American counterpart to reach a “quick” agreement to end the war with Iran. He reiterated that the maritime coalition, established by Paris and London, would be “ready” to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as it is concluded.”

“I indicated that we were ready to fully support these efforts and play our leading role in their implementation,” declared the French president.

Trump stated that Iran fervently wants to reach an agreement: “A deal between the United States and Iran.”

During the telephone conversation, “I welcomed the determined efforts being made to quickly reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, which represents a unique opportunity to build a new security framework involving all relevant actors, in order to allow a lasting stabilization of the region,” the French president wrote in X.

“This is the purpose of the international mission, which we have developed with the United Kingdom and our partners, ready to deploy as soon as an agreement is reached, in order to contribute to the safety of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

Beyond this first dialogue between Macron and Trump, when relations between the two over the Strait of Hormuz and European resistance to helping him are tenseLebanon was the center of the conversation.

France always took care of its former protectorate and wants to stop Israel’s brutal invasion of Lebanon, the bombing of the civilian population, the destruction of the towns in southern Lebanon and a new evacuation of Beirut, whose south will be bombed again.

The Middle East is still on fire. Israel bombs southern Lebanon and evacuates villages. Tehran continues to deny the American president a diplomatic victory and instead only offers compromises that are difficult for him to accept. The Iranian foreign minister once again insisted that Lebanon is party to the ceasefire agreement. Israel refuses to accept it.

Trump doubts a compromise deal with Iran. On Friday, after once again announcing that the signing was imminent, the president left the White House Crisis Room without having made a decision.

The memorandum of understanding, brokered by Pakistan, stipulates an end to US and Israeli military operations in exchange for Tehran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open to navigation. In exchange, the United States agrees to lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

But this return to the previous status quo It is nothing like the “total victory” that Trump has been announcing for weeks. In addition, it leaves aside the most difficult issues, such as the Iranian nuclear program, which are postponed for later negotiations.

In its current form, Iran would commit to not acquiring nuclear weapons, but does not provide for any other specific concession. Trump has sent the Iranians tougher counterproposals, demanding in particular a commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear program and a timetable for handing over the enriched uranium it already possesses. The American president is also frustrated by the slowness with which the Iranians respond to his proposals.

In the midst of negotiations with Iran, Donald Trump tries to involve his Arab allies in his diplomatic adventure in the Middle East. His idea of ​​making them sign an Abraham Accord with each other and with Iran was another failure.

Three months after the start of the Iran-Iraq war, a month and a half after the suspension of bombings and after numerous announcements without concrete results, Donald Trump is looking for a negotiated solution that he can present as a victory. So far, in vain.

The American president must decide between several unfavorable options. A compromise on Hormuz, without concessions on nuclear weapons, would be equivalent to admitting that the war was useless. A military escalation, and in particular ground operations, carries the risk of an already unpopular war becoming bogged down in one of those “never-ending” conflicts, which Trump has constantly denounced.

Waiting for the blockade to force Tehran to make concessions it could take monthswhile rising fuel prices put increasing pressure on the US economy.

Pakistan-brokered negotiations have only resulted in Iran’s promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, as it was before the war.

In exchange, Tehran would obtain a partial lifting of sanctions imposed for years. Iran would retain the ability to block the sea route again, which demonstrated the ease with which it can put pressure on the global economy. The most important thing is that the agreement does not solve the central problem of the Iranian nuclear program, cited as one of the main reasons for the start of the war on February 28.

Trump is also concerned about certain clauses, in particular the release of funds frozen by sanctions on Iran. After years of criticizing Obama for allowing Iran to recover $1.7 billion in frozen assets following the 2015 treaty that limited Iran’s nuclear program, Trump is now reluctant to pay Tehran significantly larger sums.

The current negotiations involve an amount almost ten times larger than Obama’s, as Iran demands the release of $20 billion in frozen assets. To avoid appearing to make a much larger concession than Obama, Trump would be considering having this payment made by a third party, such as the United Arab Emirates.

Israel must stop its “military escalation” in Lebanon and respect the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a European Union spokesperson said Monday, referring to the country’s plans to establish a military control zone in southern Lebanon.

“The Lebanese people have already suffered immense hardship. They did not choose this war, and this war does not belong to them,” said spokesman Anouar El Anouni.

Israel doesn’t listen. Beiruts flee Beirut ahead of new bombings, and Israel raises its flag over the Crusade-era fortress of Beaufort in Lebanon, which it has occupied.