Peace talks between Iran and the U.S. will resume after a weekend of kinetic action. The exchange of fire between the two countries put the Iran deal on ice. Last week on The Drew Mariani Show, Ambassador Joseph Cella joined Drew to give long-view perspective on the peace talks
Joseph Cella, the former Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, explained that patience is necessary during the peace process. “It’s been nearly 17,300 days since the mullahs took control of Iran in 1979. And it’s only been 114 days since Operation Epic Fury began,” he said. “It’s going to be tedious.”
On Saturday, Bahrain said it was hit by Iranian drones. However, there were “no immediate reports of damage in Bahrain,” according to the New York Times.
That activity comes after another Iranian drone hit an oil tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the attacks, the United States conducted strikes on Iran. According to a press release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the U.S. struck Iranian drone storage sites and coastal radar sites. CENTCOM said it remains committed to providing “safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait.”
President Trump said the ship traveling through the strait “was fine, but it took a little beating.” On Truth Social the President called the the hit “a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. and Iran agreed to stop fighting and resume peace talks.
In the meantime, Cella stressed the importance of “cautious optimism and de-escalation.”
Lebanon-Israel
In addition to the U.S.-Iran deal, Israel has signed its own deal with Lebanon. The deal was brokered by the United States and signed in Washington on June 25th. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State called the deal a “a framework for lasting peace and security.”
Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah was not present at the signing, and has since denounced the agreement. According to the Associated Press, “The deal says Israel will withdraw from Lebanon provided Hezbollah disarms.” Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said the terrorist group will not leave Lebanon until it is “forced to leave.”
Pope Leo
Last year in Beirut, the Holy Father called for peace. “While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, and not just as a goal!”
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