Israel and Lebanon have agreed to prolong their ceasefire by an additional three weeks following talks held at the White House and mediated by Donald Trump.
During the meeting, Trump emphasized his willingness to hold out for “the best deal” in efforts to resolve the broader confrontation involving Iran.
Clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon have remained a major obstacle in settling the wider eight-week regional conflict.
Other contentious issues include Iran’s nuclear program and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.
Trump reiterated that he was not under pressure to finalize a peace accord quickly, stressing his aim for a lasting resolution. He also maintained that the United States holds a decisive advantage in the ongoing maritime standoff in the strait.
His remarks came shortly after Iran demonstrated tighter control over the key shipping lane. Trump downplayed the threat posed by what he described as Iran’s “little wise-guy ships,” adding that internal instability within Tehran’s leadership was hindering progress toward a deal.
On Thursday, Trump disclosed that the U.S. Navy had been instructed to “shoot and kill” Iranian vessels deploying mines in the strait. He further claimed that any weapons Iran may have refurbished during the ceasefire, which has been in effect since April 8, could be destroyed by U.S. forces within a day. Despite these assertions, shipping through the passage remained effectively halted. Iran’s seizure of two large cargo ships highlighted ongoing challenges for Washington in maintaining control of the waterway, while also intensifying pressure on global oil markets and the broader economy.
Oil prices climbed again on Friday amid concerns over the fragile ceasefire and unresolved blockade. Brent crude futures rose by more than 1 percent, with U.S. crude posting similar gains.
Iran’s deployment of numerous small, fast vessels to capture the container ships raised questions about Trump’s claims that U.S. forces had neutralized Tehran’s naval capabilities. The tactic reflects Iran’s shifting approach in the strait, particularly as it counters U.S. interception of vessels linked to Iranian oil exports.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissed Trump’s assertions of leadership disarray, calling them “the enemy’s media operations” intended to weaken national cohesion.
“Unity will become stronger and more solid, and enemies will become weaker and more humiliated,” he said in a post on X, remaining largely out of public view since succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S. strikes during the early phase of the conflict that erupted on February 28.
The extended crisis has also strained relations between Washington and NATO, with Trump repeatedly criticizing member states for insufficient support. According to a U.S. official who spoke anonymously, Washington is considering punitive measures against countries deemed uncooperative, including Spain.
The official said policy options under review include restricting access, basing rights, and overflight permissions for allies unwilling to assist U.S. operations related to Iran.
Earlier this week, Trump announced an indefinite extension of what had initially been a two-week ceasefire with Iran to allow room for further negotiations, though no formal talks have yet been scheduled.
“Don’t rush me,” he said when asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal. “I want to make the best deal … I want to have it everlasting.”
He also ruled out deploying nuclear weapons, telling reporters that such measures were unnecessary given what he described as the extensive damage already inflicted on Iran using conventional military force.
“No, I wouldn’t use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody,” Trump said when asked by a reporter at the White House.
Despite the ceasefire extension, violence persisted in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continued strikes against Hezbollah positions following some of the deadliest clashes since an earlier truce on April 16.
The Israeli military reported conducting several operations on Thursday, killing three Hezbollah fighters and targeting infrastructure used to launch attacks. Hezbollah, in turn, continued firing rockets and deploying drones against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, as well as launching rockets toward northern Israel.
Among those killed in Israeli strikes this week was Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, according to a senior Lebanese military official and her employer, the newspaper Al-Akhbar.
Israel has attempted to coordinate with Lebanon’s government against Hezbollah, a group established by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Beirut has been trying to disarm through peaceful means over the past year. Hezbollah did not participate in the ceasefire negotiations held in Washington.
Prior to Thursday’s announcement, Israel signaled readiness to resume strikes against Iran, stating it was awaiting a “green light” from the United States. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any renewed offensive would begin with targeting Khamenei and could “return Iran to a dark age.”
