Tehran sets a new type of conditions for Washington…

Ever since the United States adopted a policy of sanctions and economic pressure on Iran, negotiations between the two parties have made no progress.

The visit of Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdulrahman Al Thani to Tehran on Thursday aimed to revive these talks, particularly with a view to facilitating smoother passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi skillfully seized on the visit to make a cautious overture toward the United States.

Posting a photo with the Qatari official on his X account, he accompanied it with a message stating that returning to the negotiating table "is not impossible."

As expected, he attached carefully worded conditions to this statement: the United States must acknowledge that pressure is futile, must build trust with Iran, speak to it with respect (!) and recognize its rights, while honoring their commitments.

A tall order — especially since the Americans are showing no signs of abandoning their economic pressure strategy in order to resume talks.

On Friday, the U.S. Treasury said it had identified the networks and intermediaries used by Iran to smuggle oil exports and circumvent sanctions… "We will target any source of illicit revenue for the Iranian regime, in coordination with all U.S. government agencies and our allies," the Treasury emphasized.

Furthermore, according to the news site Axios, the United States believes it has significantly weakened Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz, which has over time become the central issue in negotiations — even more important than the nuclear file or ballistic missiles.

On that note, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday warning "all countries" against enforcing what it called "illegal and unjustified" U.S. sanctions against Iran, and calling for the application of "international law."

The country will remain determined to counter "the joint military and economic offensive by the United States and Israel," the statement continued.

Meanwhile, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei categorically denied reports released by U.S. intelligence on Tuesday, which alleged that Tehran had hatched a plot to assassinate Barron, the youngest son of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Iranian official chose Hezbollah's television channel to denounce what he called American "lies" regarding the alleged plot to assassinate Barron Trump.

It is worth noting that Iranian state television had itself broadcast this story a few days earlier, reporting a significant bounty offered for any contribution to the operation…

Strikes on the outskirts of Damascus

The other major story of the day is a fresh surge in tensions between Damascus and Tel Aviv, following two incidents that occurred on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

The first was an Israeli incursion into Ras al-Ajraf in Syrian territory, near the Golan Heights, on Thursday evening.

According to the pro-Hezbollah channel Al-Mayadeen, Israeli soldiers reportedly searched several homes in the area.

The second incident took place on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday morning. A correspondent for the Syrian SANA agency reported that two shells had landed in agricultural fields in the Damascus countryside, causing no casualties.

Israel does not appear to be in any rush to ease tensions with Syria, despite the recent meeting in Jordan between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the head of Mossad, which was intended to defuse the situation following Israeli strikes on a Syrian airport in Idlib.

The raid also nearly triggered a serious escalation with Turkey, an ally of the Syrian regime.

Meanwhile, Thursday proved to be a deadly day in the Palestinian territories. Israeli strikes killed three people in Gaza, including two members of the same family.

Strikes in Jenin, in the northern West Bank, targeted 'several terrorists,' according to a statement from the Israeli military.

Haykal meets with French chargé d'affaires

Southern Lebanon, meanwhile, continues to be rocked by explosions and Israeli bombardments. The Israeli military is increasingly conducting incursions into Lebanese territory, notably to carry out searches or blow up houses.

The destruction appears to be intensifying, particularly in certain towns such as Nabatieh and Mansouri, in the Tyre area.

With no new prospects emerging from the direct negotiations being conducted by Lebanese authorities with Israel under American sponsorship, France's role is once again beginning to reassert itself on the Lebanese scene.

Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Rodolphe Haykal met on Friday with French chargé d'affaires Bruno Da Silva, ahead of a conference expected to be held in Paris in support of the Lebanese army.

A preparatory meeting is expected to take place in the French capital on September 17, and General Haykal is expected to attend.

Shortly before the French diplomat's visit, the army chief had been received by President of the Republic Joseph Aoun at Baabda.