The United States and Israel agree that they and their allies will stop fighting on all fronts despite reaching no firm resolution about Iran’s nuclear program. Instead, they agree to enter a 60-day period of negotiations. Israel is not a signatory to the agreement, yet the U.S. promises that the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon will stop. Iran agrees to open the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. in turn agrees to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Within 10 days, however, they are again fighting over access through the strait. The memorandum of understanding promises Iran a $300 billion fund for reconstruction, financed by its neighbors. Issues such as sanctions on Iran, Iran’s missile programs, Iran’s support for regional proxies and billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets all remain to be resolved. Israelis are angry that President Trump criticized Israel for insisting that Israel stop fighting Hezbollah even as Hezbollah continued threatening northern Israel. (source)
