US-Iran peace deal comes into question as Israel attacks Lebanon

An expected deal to end the war with Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz is in jeopardy as Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah exchanged attacks on Sunday.

The Israel Defense Forces announced in a social media post on Sunday that it had attacked a Hezbollah command center in Beirut after the group launched airstrikes “against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.” In a subsequent Telegram post, the IDF said it was preparing for further attacks targeting Israeli territory.

The fistfight came after US President Donald Trump insisted the US and Tehran would sign a deal on Sunday to stop fighting with Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on Sunday Truth Social, President Trump said Israel’s attack on Beirut “should not have happened, especially on such a special day with a peace deal with Iran so close.”

“Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attacks it was responding to were so small and senseless that no one was injured, wounded or killed, and this important process should not be disrupted,” he wrote. “There must be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there must also be no more attacks against Israel by any other force, including Hezbollah.”

The US president warned the parties not to “fail”.

The agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and taking steps to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. It would also end the Iranian government’s funding of violence and impose an “inspection regime” on the Islamic Republic.

Iran will be rewarded for complying with measures such as lifting asset freezes and easing sanctions.

President Trump later told Fox News he still expected a deal to be signed on Sunday and said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president reportedly asked Netanyahu, “What the hell are you doing?” He called on Israeli leaders not to carry out further attacks. He also reportedly said he would instruct Iran not to respond.

“I hope this process works out quickly, easily and smoothly,” President Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday, threatening that if it didn’t work, “we have the ultimate alternative. Hopefully, it’s never used again!”

A gunfight between Israel and Lebanon last week upset a delicate ceasefire and threatened to reignite a conflict that has lasted more than three months. The US briefly attacked Iranian targets, but Iran fired missiles at Israel and other US allies in the region. The draft agreement was announced immediately after the exchange.

But on Sunday night, new hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reignited, again raising doubts that a peace deal is likely to be reached.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a post on X that an Israeli attack on Lebanon could disrupt the agreement.

“The Zionist invasion of Dahiyeh has once again shown that America has neither the will nor the ability to fulfill its commitments,” he said in the post, according to a translation by X. “Without the will and ability to fulfill our commitments, it is impossible to continue on our path.”

Still, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that he remains confident that an agreement will be signed by the end of the day.

“I’m confident, the team is confident,” he said. “I don’t want to get ahead of the president or the vice president, but they’re going to get this done today.”

“As far as I can tell, we’re on track. It’s not a question of if it’s going to happen, it’s a question of when,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“If Iran wants to stay this way, it definitely needs to get Hezbollah out,” Hegseth said.

This story is developing. Please check back for the latest information.