Joseph Aoun

President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that the United States is "not ready to leave" its military confrontation with Iran, specifically pledging to attack the Mount Makosh nuclear site. Speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, Trump warned that a premature withdrawal would grant the Iranian regime a 20-to-25-year window to recover its strategic capabilities, asserting that the U.S. has "not finished the job."

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the Iranian regime on Tuesday evening, declaring that the United States is "not done" with Iran and remains prepared to strike any nuclear facility the Islamic Republic attempts to reactivate. Speaking as direct kinetic tensions continue to simmer, the President emphasized that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in effect and warned of a massive escalation should Iranian forces target commercial vessels.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he is working in close coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the security situation in the north, predicting that Israel will eventually withdraw its forces from Lebanon. The remarks, made alongside Syrian officials, come amid a complex diplomatic landscape where Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reports domestic support for negotiations, even as Iran threatens to shutter the Strait of Hormuz and cancel regional agreements.

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper conducted high-level meetings in Israel and Lebanon this week to advance the Washington framework agreement, as Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that the IDF will not withdraw from security zones until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. The diplomatic push comes amid reports that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing plans to deploy American ground forces to Lebanon to monitor the implementation of the U.S.-brokered agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone overnight with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to congratulate him on the signing of a framework agreement with Israel. During the call, Trump pledged that the United States would provide Lebanon with all necessary resources to ensure the deal's implementation and expressed his intention to host Aoun at the White House in the near future.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN in an exclusive interview that Iran is using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the United States — a situation he described as unacceptable — and called on Hezbollah to accept that dialogue is the only path forward. The remarks, confirmed by material reviewed by The Zioneer Intelligence Desk, represent some of the sharpest public criticism of Iran and Hezbollah to come from Beirut's presidential palace in years.

The US State Department is the primary executive agency responsible for American foreign policy and diplomacy. In mid-2026, it has served as the lead architect for the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, conditioning Israeli withdrawal on the verified disarmament of Hezbollah while managing a parallel de-confliction track with Iran.

Hananel Aviv is an Israeli military analyst and security journalist specializing in real-time intelligence synthesis, regional kinetic developments, and the strategic infrastructure of Iran and its proxies.

Abbas Araghchi is the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a veteran diplomat who serves as a primary architect of Tehran's regional strategy and nuclear policy.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military of the State of Israel, responsible for defending its sovereignty and ensuring the security of its citizens. As of August 2026, the IDF is engaged in a multi-front campaign, transitioning from counter-proxy operations to direct kinetic warfare against the Iranian regime while simultaneously managing a complex disarmament and withdrawal framework in the Gaza Strip.

Yair Goldblatt is an Israeli security analyst and commentator specializing in the Arab world and regional intelligence. He is a prominent figure in the Israeli digital intelligence landscape, frequently cited for his reporting on Iranian military movements, regional kinetic activity, and U.S.-Iran diplomatic friction.

Danny Zaken is a veteran Israeli diplomatic correspondent for Israel Hayom, known for breaking high-stakes stories regarding Israel's strategic relations with the United States and regional security developments.