Israel says peace talks on Lebanon – unseperable from negotiations between Iran and the US – are a “train wreck” – and that comes from one of Tel Aviv’s most senior ambassadors to America
Iran peace talks have hit major obstacles after both sides issued conflicting statements on the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz – and Israel branded negotiations a “train wreck.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Iran cannot charge tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran rejects US claims it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the war-battered country.
It followed US President Donald Trump claiming Tehran had agreed to the “highest level” of monitoring, which Iran has been quick to deny, saying there has been no agreement. The chaos-ridden process aimed at bringing long-term peace to the Middle East looks like being derailed if more flare-ups break out between Lebanon and Israeli forces.
Middle Eastern leaders held their breath after Israeli forces killed two locals in southern Lebanon on Tuesday claiming they were a threat, almost derailing a ceasefire. Last week’s memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran controversially includes a ceasefire for 60 days and no-fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
But there was an upsurge in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resulting in dozens killed in Lebanon – until another fragile ceasefire signing on Friday. The presence of Hezbollah has become a key principle on which Iran talks are pivoting – with Tehran demanding Lebanon is included in a peace deal and Israel resisting. Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter echoed the fury of many Israeli officials over the US driving talks forward without excluding Lebanon in any long-term settlement.
Leiter said the US had been on board with Israel as far as the disarming of Hezbollah is concerned – or face more war in Lebanon. He said: “We sat in the same car and travelled to the same destination, with the United States serving as the locomotive. The train was heading in a very clear direction: full peace between the countries, Iran and its malign influence out of Lebanon, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and peace and security for Lebanon and Israel.
“Today, this train is in danger of derailing. I hope we can get it back on track.” He said: “The basic premise was that Iran was not involved, and the main discussion is about Lebanon and Hezbollah — not about the extent to which Iran can restrain Hezbollah… That is not Iran’s role. Its role is to get out of Lebanon.” Further fuel was poured on the fire by Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian who declared Tehran’s ballistic missile programme is outside current negotiations.
Tehran’s ability to fire ballistic and other missiles was one of the main sticking points for Israel which has in the past insisted the US include the programme in their talks. But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s missile program is non-negotiable, arguing would have ended up “just like Gaza” without its ballistic missile capabilities. He said: “If the missiles we have for our defence did not exist, Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young.We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities.”
