Iran peace talks have hit major obstacles after both sides issued conflicting statements on the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz, with Israel branding negotiations a “train wreck.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Iran cannot charge tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran rejects US claims it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country.
Trump's Claim Denied by Tehran
US President Donald Trump claimed Tehran had agreed to the “highest level” of monitoring, but Iran quickly denied this, stating no agreement has been reached. The chaos-ridden process aimed at bringing long-term peace to the Middle East faces derailment if further flare-ups occur between Lebanon and Israeli forces.
Israel's Ambassador Warns of Derailment
Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter expressed fury over the US driving talks forward without excluding Lebanon from any long-term settlement. 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.”
Leiter added: “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.”
Ceasefire Fragility and Hezbollah's Role
Last week’s memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran controversially includes a 60-day ceasefire and a no-fighting commitment between Israel and Hezbollah. However, an upsurge in fighting resulted in dozens killed in Lebanon until another fragile ceasefire was signed on Friday. The presence of Hezbollah has become a key principle in the Iran talks, with Tehran demanding Lebanon be included in a peace deal and Israel resisting.
Israeli forces killed two locals in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, claiming they were a threat, almost derailing the ceasefire. Middle Eastern leaders held their breath as the incident threatened to escalate.
Iran's Missile Programme Non-Negotiable
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Tehran’s ballistic missile programme is outside current negotiations. 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.”
Tehran’s ability to fire ballistic and other missiles was a major sticking point for Israel, which had insisted the US include the programme in talks. Pezeshkian argued Iran would have ended up “just like Gaza” without its missile capabilities.
