What to know about the Iran war today:
Iran’s top negotiator told state television that the country is ready for war if the U.S. doesn’t fulfill its commitments.Iranian and U.S. officials have traveled to Qatar, but aren’t expected to hold direct talks.An agreement signed four days ago between Israel and Lebanon links an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon to the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah being disarmed. Analysts say that could mean Israel occupying southern Lebanon indefinitely, which could continue hampering efforts toward a full U.S.-Iran peace deal.
Trump’s envoys meet with Qatari prime minister
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Tuesday, Qatar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
The officials discussed the ongoing peace talks between the U.S. and Iran and the ceasefire in Lebanon, according to the statement.
A senior Trump administration official told CBS News that Witkoff and Kushner had very positive conversations with regional leaders and that good progress continues to be made as technical talks continue.
Iran has exported over 40 million barrels of oil since end of U.S. blockade, negotiator says
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said Iran was unable to export any oil during the U.S. blockade on its ports, noting that exports have since surged.
“From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil,” he said in an interview on state television. “By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60 days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil.”
Iran prioritizing diplomacy but also “prepared for war,” chief negotiator says
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday that Iran was prioritizing diplomacy with the United States, but remained ready for war.
“We are pursuing dialogue, but if the dialogue is not implemented, we are also prepared for war and will respond accordingly,” Ghalibaf said in an interview on state television, as Iranian and U.S. delegations were due to hold separate discussions in Doha, Qatar.
House sinks Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s second war powers resolution on Lebanon
For a second time, the House on Tuesday voted against limiting President Trump’s authority to engage the U.S. military in warfare in Lebanon without congressional authorization.
The war powers resolution, which was introduced by Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, is an updated version of a measure that also failed earlier this month after Democratic leaders came out against it.
Tuesday’s vote ended with 189 voting in favor and 235 voting in opposition of constraining the president’s authority.
Credit: Yahoo News