The whole world held its breath when Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian virtually signed a memorandum of understanding to extinguish the war blaze ravaging the Middle East. But hope lasted less than a sigh: within 48 hours, the pact was already dead letter.
On Wednesday the 17th, the United States and Iran sealed a 14-point commitment that included an immediate cessation of hostilities, lifting of the naval blockade, and release of frozen Iranian assets. However, the first item – ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon – depended on an actor who signed nothing: Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu, far from complying with the ceasefire, doubled down on attacks. Hours after the signing, Israeli bombings in dozens of cities in southern Lebanon left at least 47 dead and hundreds wounded. Iran’s response was immediate: on Saturday, the Central Command of its Armed Forces closed the Strait of Hormuz, paralyzing the transit of nearly a thousand ships that had been waiting since March.
«It is a flagrant violation of the first clause,» Tehran denounced, while the Pentagon insisted the passage remained open and that 55 ships had crossed without problems. Versions clash, but facts are stubborn: the price of oil, which had euphorically fallen on Thursday, shot up again.
The memorandum, negotiated with Pakistan’s mediation and the backing of China, Russia, Turkey, and Qatar, grants Iran key concessions: respect for its sovereignty, lifting of all sanctions (including those from the UN and IAEA), and release of its frozen funds. But the shadow of Trump, famous for despising agreements, looms over the process.
At the G7 summit in France, the US president publicly pressured Netanyahu: «Bibi must be more responsible; too many people are dying in Lebanon. To attack Hezbollah, there was no need to bring down buildings with civilians.» And, in a display of cynicism, he admitted his complicity: «Without me, Israel would not exist.»
Vice President J.D. Vance went further: «When it seems we are about to achieve a breakthrough, suddenly a bomb explodes in Beirut. That is unacceptable.» But Netanyahu responded with a challenge: «Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary.»
Trump then decided to play dirty: he began sounding out the Israeli premier’s rivals ahead of the October 27 elections. «I will support Netanyahu, but he needs to be more rational,» he warned, while flirting with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
The movie has been seen before: advances and retreats, fake news and broken promises. But this time, the clock is ticking. There are 58 days left for the memorandum to become peace or ashes. And meanwhile, Lebanon bleeds.
Para mí este pacto Trump-Irán era humo imperialista, y Netanyahu lo dinamita porque el sionismo no quiere paz. Ojalá los pueblos cierren Ormuz para siempre y frenen las bombas en Líbano. ¡Abajo el sionismo, viva la resistencia!
che pero estos forros de Iran y sus amiguitos se pensaban q trump los iba a salvar? para mi netanyahu tiene mas huevos q todo el congreso yankee. el estrecho se cierra? bien ahi q se pudran los iranies y sus cohetes viva israel carajo firmado elgauchojudio