United States has eased sanctions on Iranian oil for 60 days,letting Tehran access $12 billion in frozen funds. Comes after Iran agreed to allow international nuclear inspections, a big step in ongoing US-Israel-Iran negotiations .
Iran's chief negotiator,Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,confirmed release of two $6 billion tranches. US Treasury's sanctions waiver lasts until August 21,enabling Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals,petroleum sales. Ghalibaf called talks "good achievements," noting impact on reducing Lebanon violence .
Meanwhile,Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Islamabad, meeting officials like counterpart Ishaq Dar. This followed Oman discussions, where Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi backed "toll-free passage" in Strait of Hormuz.
Former US ambassador Henry Ensher said both Washington,Tehran seem to achieve goals. "Both sides want to show they've gotten upper hand or at least not taken advantage of," he observed .
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed full adherence to terms,saying negotiations' effectiveness depends on precise implementation. Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati denied US President Donald Trump's claims that Iranian funds would buy US agricultural products, saying funds are for "basic goods and medicine."
In US,Trump stated Strait of Hormuz to stay open without naval blockade,though ships will remain if needed. He was confident Iran would comply with inspections,that released assets would go to US goods.
But Democrats on House Foreign Affairs Committee slammed Trump for sanctions relief without progress on key issues like Iran's nuclear program. They argued previous claims linking relief to Iranian behavior unmet.
Meanwhile,tensions rose in Lebanon,where Israeli forces killed two,injured another in Nabatieh al-Fawqa. This after UN reported rare lull in Lebanon air attacks since Israel-Hezbollah conflict heated up . Hezbollah condemned Israeli actions as "blatant violation" of ceasefire.
Hezbollah's deputy political council head,Mahmoud Qamati, warned group would respond to ceasefire breaches. Israeli officials,including PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz,vowed to keep military actions in southern Lebanon,acting decisively against threats.
As conflict hits 116th day,direct Israel-Lebanon talks set to resume in Washington,DC,amid ongoing violence,diplomatic moves…
