The war in Iran, and the broader Middle East, is apparently over — at least according to US President Trump. A 14-point agreement between the US and Iran has been signed - in Versailles Palace, where the ill-fated agreement ending World War I was signed - largely giving Iran all it asked for. The world economy may eventually return to some semblance of normality as the Strait of Hormuz reopens, assuming it really does, but the region as a whole is far from at peace, and somewhat far from comprehending a deal that stablizes remarkably little. This is especially true to Lebanon: torn apart by its own sectarian violence and economic deterioration, it has become the core issue of dispute. For Iran, Hezbollah must remain intact and in control, with Iranian oversight of the whole country; for Israel, Hezbollah must be disarmed and removed from Lebanon’s southern border.
Neither Israel nor Lebanon are parties to the newly signed 14-point agreement, though both have now embarked upon some kind of talks sponsored by the US. That may not matter, as in the complex web of Lebanese politics, Hezbollah is more powerful than the government. However, it has been weakened dramatically by Israel, that is also pushing back on it while licking its wounds from what seems like a humiliating defeat.
Suzan Haidamous, Beirut-based correspondent for the Washington Post, is the perfect person to make some sense of Lebanon’s predicaments. In a great and wise conversation, she brings lived experience of Lebanon coupled with great insight and compassion.
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