Reuters: Tehran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with Washington, and has suggested in recent days that it could intervene directly in support of its proxy Hezbollah if Israel keeps up or escalates attacks there.
…But casting doubt on the robustness of the truce, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday the military would continue to strike in Lebanon for the time being and would not be withdrawing from the south…
Trump Tells Aides He Won’t Resume All-Out War With Iran Unless U.S. Troops Are Killed
President Trump has told aides privately that he would consider ending the ceasefire with Iran if Tehran kills American troops, U.S. officials said, insisting that the weekslong pause in airstrikes remains intact despite a steady stream of violent skirmishes.
The president’s reluctance to reignite the war suggests he might be willing to withstand smaller flare-ups for weeks—or even months—to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East…
Israel and Lebanon renew ceasefire deal without Hezbollah, a main combatant
The powerful Iranian-backed militant group, which is not part of the Lebanese government and was not present at the talks held at the State Department in Washington, did not immediately respond to the deal’s announcement…
In a first, House votes to block Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran
The House passed a resolution Wednesday to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the administration to find a way to end the unpopular war…
War may end in interim deal that leaves Iran battered but unbowed
Iran calculates that it can deter future attacks only if it retains its missile arsenal, its regional network of allies and the ability to disrupt Gulf energy flows.
“What Trump needs politically and what Iran is willing to give may look close – but the overlap is minimal,” said Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat and Iran expert…
Republicans Begin to Test the Limits of Trump’s Power by Flexing Their Own
On Wednesday evening, four House Republicans sided with Democrats to demand Mr. Trump withdraw U.S. forces from the conflict with Iran or win approval from Congress, rebuking a president who has repeatedly said he does not need congressional authorization to continue the conflict…
These Republicans Broke With Trump on the War in Iran
The four hail from different factions within the G.O.P.; two are staunch conservatives with libertarian views that include opposition to foreign military intervention, while the other two are more mainstream Republicans from competitive districts where backing for the war could be a political liability. All of them expressed a firm belief that Congress, not the president alone, must weigh in on the scope and objectives of the war…
Slumping Chinese oil imports ‘shield’ global market from higher prices
Traders and analysts say near-decade-low shipments are a major factor in why crude still trades at less than $100 a barrel…
Donald Trump’s Iran war drains US oil stocks to lowest level since 2004
Industry warns prices could soon jump as inventories reach ‘critically low’ threshold…
The Hormuz Squeeze Is Redrawing the Oil Map for Good
Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Iraq are pouring money into pipelines, rail and storage to keep oil flowing even when the strait isn’t…