Trump Expected in China as Netanyahu Continues to Reject Peace

The past week in the Middle East was marked by maintaining a fragile balance while waiting for a major event in the next one: U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China.

The world's second superpower has yet to have its say in the conflict between its ally and one of its main energy suppliers, Iran, against its primary global rival.

In any case, another ally—that of the Americans—once again made headlines: the Israeli prime minister ruled that the 'war is not over' as long as there are 'still nuclear materials—enriched uranium—that must be removed from Iran' and 'enrichment sites to dismantle,' Benjamin Netanyahu told American broadcaster CBS.

Meanwhile, direct negotiations between Iran and the United States remain deadlocked. Iran finally announced on Sunday that it had responded to the American plan presented on Friday, aimed at ending the war.

State television indicated that the response delivered on Sunday, via Pakistani mediator, was 'focused on ending the war (...) on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, and on guaranteeing maritime navigation security,' without further details.

Internal Iranian divisions were the subject of a notable article in the British newspaper Telegraph, mentioned on Sunday by Arab media. According to the newspaper, the most extreme elements in Tehran, currently representing a minority, are opposed to a peaceful solution.

They even accuse Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of playing a role in the assassination, on February 28 last, of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, in order to discredit him.

In short, growing chaos that would explain the delay in responding to American proposals.

In an interview recorded earlier in the week and broadcast on Sunday, Donald Trump estimated that the Iranians were 'defeated militarily,' but suggested that the U.S. military could 'stay for two more weeks and strike all identified targets' to provide a 'finishing touch.'

Surprise strikes on Iranian ports

In the absence of direct talks, the U.S. military carried out limited surprise strikes against Iran, mainly in the middle of the week. These strikes targeted, among others, the Iranian ports of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, and were presented as a 'minor skirmish' by Donald Trump. He was quick to clarify that the ceasefire was not over.

On Saturday, two Iranian oil tankers attempting to approach ports came under U.S. fire. A way of reminding that the blockade remains in place on Iranian ports.

Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, now recurring targets of Iranian hostilities, were targeted by drones on Sunday.

Also in the middle of the week, the American president decided to suspend his 'Project Liberty,' supposed to have the U.S. military escort blocked ships due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and those wishing to cross it safely.

Escalation and assassination in the South and suburbs

In Lebanon, eyes are on the third Lebanese-Israeli meeting in Washington, scheduled for May 14-15, as announced by an anonymous American official whose comments were relayed by media. According to information from local channel MTV, the head of the Lebanese delegation, former ambassador Simon Karam, would already be on his way to the American capital.

The main claim from the Lebanese side should be to consolidate a genuine ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas.

According to sources cited by Israeli media and relayed by Lebanese media on Saturday evening, 'the talks will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah, border issues, and a future agreement.'

The message, in short, is that there would be no withdrawal without the disarmament of the pro-Iranian group. Twice this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused it of being an 'obstacle' to peace between Israel and Lebanon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar assured on Saturday that his country has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but is trying to prevent 'another October 7.'

Hezbollah voices continue to speak out against these negotiations. Once again, it is deputy Hassan Fadlallah who does so, arguing that such negotiations are 'unconstitutional,' and that only 'indirect' negotiations should be pursued.

On the ground, the most notable event in the confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel was the assassination of Ahmad Ballout, commander of the militia's elite al-Radwane force, on Wednesday evening in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Not only was this the first time the suburbs were struck since the April 16 ceasefire, but this assassination resurfaced the question of the extent of security breaches within the party that had enabled major Israeli assassinations in 2024.

In the south of the country, the population lives in a true nightmare: dozens of new villages forcibly evacuated by a simple call from the spokesman of the Israeli army on X, continuous raids and bombardments, dozens of lives lost.

The escalation was not simply reflected in a growing number of raids and missiles, but in a geographical expansion of Israeli operations beyond South Lebanon, even to Mount Lebanon, with two strikes in the Shouf, killing three people. Signs of a widening of the war?

For its part, Hezbollah continued its attacks at a very intense pace, increasingly relying on its explosive drones that Israelis are having great difficulty detecting, according to articles in the Hebrew state press.

Salam in Damascus

It is in this context that Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Saturday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Chareh, accompanied by a delegation of ministers.

Salam clearly explained in his statements that his visit aimed to 'resolve pending issues.' He especially assured that Lebanese authorities would no longer accept attempts to destabilize 'friendly' Arab countries from Lebanese territory.

Coincidence? Syrian authorities, who recently dismantled more than one network they say is linked to Hezbollah and working to destabilize the new Damascus regime, declared that same evening that the pro-Iranian group harbors 'criminals from the old regime,' ensuring they want to 'recover those who have Syrian blood on their hands.'

The Syrian president also carried out a major cabinet reshuffle that same evening, dismissing several ministers including his own brother, and appointing administrative officials from regions.