Lead:
A cluster of fast-moving diplomatic developments is reshaping the Middle East's security landscape. U.S. President Donald Trump announced direct contact with Hezbollah, claiming agreement on a halt to hostilities with Israel, while simultaneously signaling a potential nuclear deal with Iran as early as next week. In parallel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council issued strong condemnations of Iranian strikes on Kuwait, underscoring the breadth of regional tensions now in play.
Details:
According to NewSD, Trump confirmed he held what he described as "a very good call" with Hezbollah, stating the group had agreed to a full cessation of fire and an end to all exchanges of fire. Al-Jazirah (Saudi) corroborated this, reporting that Trump had also spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced that both Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire. The report noted that the call came amid accounts of American pressure to prevent further escalation in Lebanon.
A significant point of tension emerged between Trump and Netanyahu. Al-Yaum reported that Trump publicly attacked the Israeli prime minister over the escalation in Lebanon, with the headline quoting Trump as saying "You are crazy." This public rebuke stands in notable contrast to the cooperative framing presented in Al-Jazirah's ceasefire announcement, suggesting that while a formal agreement may exist, the personal relationship between the two leaders is under visible strain.
On the Iran nuclear file, Al-Yaum and Al-Jazirah (Saudi) both reported Trump's claim that a deal with Iran and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz could materialize as early as next week, with talks described as proceeding at a rapid pace. However, Al-Yaum separately reported that Iran's negotiating team announced a suspension of talks with the United States, citing the continuation of the war in Lebanon. A member of the Iranian negotiating team, cited by Al-Yaum, stated that Washington had retreated from its demand that Iran transfer uranium materials to American custody — a point of potential convergence, though Iranian sources signaled the process remains fragile.
On a separate but related front, multiple NewSD sources and the GCC Secretary-General, as reported by Al-Jazirah (Saudi), issued sharp condemnations of repeated Iranian attacks on Kuwait. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry, according to NewSD, described the strikes as "sinful and repeated" and stated Riyadh's categorical rejection of the aggression, aligning fully with the GCC's collective position.
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