Things remain tense in the Middle East on Thursday, even as Iran and the United States have a tentative agreement in place, something U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to sign off on. American officials stated Trump's approval is key to any agreement, despite him stating earlier this week that he wasn't satisfied with the current state of talks.
It's unknown whether Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has signed off on the agreement. The war in Iran is in its 91st day.
Israel-Lebanon Set to Take Place in Washington
Talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to take place in Washington D.C. at the Pentagon on Friday, according to Lebanese media Aljadeed TV. The media outlet reported that the meeting is expected to pave the way for broader political negotiations scheduled for next Tuesday. Lebanon is expected to push for a fortification of the ongoing ceasefire, which is strained by the ongoing fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah. Israel is expected to call for a joint security and military strategy aimed at strengthening border control, CBS News reported.
Israel Issues 'Urgent Warning' to Lebanese Residents to Leave
The Israeli army has issued another call for residents in Lebanon to pack up and leave as attacks ramp up. An army spokesperson said the 'urgent warning' is for those living in 'Ansariya, al-Kharayeb, Shabriha, Sarafand, Adloun, and Baisariya.' The residents were urged to 'move north of the Zahrani River.' The military is 'compelled to act forcefully against Hezbollah' because it violated the 'ceasefire,' a statement said, per Al Jazeera. 'Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and their combat means is endangering their life,' said a post on X.
Vance Says U.S., Iran Still Working on 'Language Points'
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Trump signing off on a tentative memorandum of understanding with Iran is 'TBD,' noting the two nations are still negotiating over 'a couple of language points.' 'I think it's hard to say exactly when or if the president is going to sign the MOU. We're going back and forth on a couple of language points,' Vance told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday, as reported by CNN. Vance said key points on Iran's nuclear program and enriched uranium still need to be worked out. 'There are a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment. So we're going back and forth with them. We do think they're negotiating, at least so far, in good faith,' Vance said. 'Hopefully, we'll continue to make progress, the president will be in a position where he can endorse the agreement, but obviously that's still TBD.'
Trump Still Needs to Sign Off on Deal
Trump still hasn't signed off on the tentative agreement between Iran and the U.S., as the situation in the Middle East remains tense. U.S. officials cautioned that Trump's approval will be key to the agreement, with the president stating earlier he wasn't satisfied with the current state of talks, CNN reported. The finalization of text between the two countries is a sign that diplomacy was proceeding, despite the fighting this week. It's unknown whether Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has signed off on the peace agreement.
