US and Iran strike peace deal after 108 days of war, but fragile truce faces mistrust in Lebanon and Iran
After 108 days of conflict, Iran and the US announce a ceasefire and framework for talks, but the pact faces deep mistrust in Lebanon and among Iranians.
The agreement
After 108 days of war that began when the United States and Israel declared war on Iran in late February, Washington and Tehran struck a truce overnight on 14-15 June. The framework, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, is to be signed in Geneva on Friday and provides for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts. It sets a 60-day window to negotiate Iran's nuclear future. Donald Trump claims he secured an Iranian pledge not to build a nuclear weapon, though the same commitment existed in the 2015 accord he withdrew from. The status of 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium held by Iran remains unresolved. In return, Tehran says it will recover part of its frozen foreign assets.
- US and Israel declare war on Iran
- US and Iran agree to end hostilities
- Displaced Lebanese begin returning south under truce
- Peace deal to be signed in Geneva
- 60-day deadline to negotiate nuclear future expires
Lebanon's fragile peace
The truce promises an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and displaced residents flooded back to the south on 15 June. In Nabatieh, returnees found streets in ruins and bodies still under the rubble. But previous ceasefires since 17 April have collapsed swiftly, eroding trust. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope the deal would bring lasting calm:
. Yet Lebanese officials say they were not informed of the accord. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz immediately declared his forces "will stay in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, for an unlimited period." Walid Joumblatt, leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, dismissed the pact:will put a definitive end to the cycle of violence and open the way to a phase of stability, security, recovery and reconstruction
There is no guarantee for Lebanon in this agreement. The Americans will never put pressure on the Israelis.
Iranian hopes and disillusionment
In Tehran, some residents welcomed the halt of bombardments. "I have a positive opinion about this agreement. War and bombs have never been beneficial for anyone," said one Iranian. Another noted, "Right now our situation is very difficult. With this agreement, inflation will maybe go down." Yet among those interviewed, a deeper scepticism prevails. Many Iranians see the deal as a betrayal that entrenches a brutal regime. A Franco-Iranian, Chakomeh, said: "For me, it's not peace, it's rather a betrayal," arguing the Iranian government will emerge stronger. Others, recalling past false starts, expect the US to strike again mid-negotiation. Iranian agency Mehr published 14 supposed points of the accord, but ordinary Iranians are largely absent from the roadmap, which mentions only a US pledge not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs. Geopolitologist Thierry Garcin noted:
For many, the peace merely highlights their economic misery; the deal offers no lifting of sanctions or embargo relief. "Knowing that the United States and Iran are just playing around negotiating to get the best possible deal, while everyone doesn't care about the population, exhausts me," said Reza, an Iranian technician.It's the radicals within the regime, that is, the Revolutionary Guards, who, in a way, reinforce their power within the regime. And it's obvious that it's much harder to negotiate with them than with a somewhat accommodating regime.
What's next
The agreement must still be signed, and two months of talks lie ahead. If the nuclear question is not resolved, the truce could unravel. In Lebanon, the gap between hope and Israeli military posture remains wide. And in Iran, a population long trapped between war and repression faces little immediate improvement.
