Iran Conflict Day 97: Tehran Says Talks Stalled, Israel Strikes Lebanon

On day 97 of the Iran conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that talks with the U.S. have yielded no progress, but communication channels remain open amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Araghchi also defended Iran's attacks on U.S. allies in the Gulf as acts of self-defense, warning that additional sanctions or military action will not force Tehran to change course.

The same day, Kuwait confirmed that Iranian missile and drone strikes on Wednesday killed one person and injured over 60 others.

Iran

Iranian officials reported that U.S. forces struck an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a communications facility on Qeshm Island on Tuesday evening, triggering retaliatory Tehran attacks on U.S.-linked targets in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday. Iran reiterated it will respond to any attacks on its territory and interests.

With summer energy demand surging, Iran faces a widening supply-demand gap. The financial burden of war leaves the government with fewer options to address the crisis. Citizens and business owners report sharply higher electricity bills, some attributing the spike to conflict-driven economic pressure.

War Diplomacy

The U.S. announced that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to implement a ceasefire following talks in Washington. The deal requires a halt to fire from Hezbollah, a pullback of Hezbollah forces from the area south of the Litani River, and the establishment of security zones under exclusive control of the Lebanese army. Both sides are expected to resume negotiations later this month toward a broader agreement.

Analysts suggest Hezbollah may demand guarantees that Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon and that attacks will cease before fully committing to the deal. Previous ceasefires have struggled to hold, with each side accusing the other of violations.

Gulf

Kuwaiti authorities confirmed that Iranian missile and drone strikes on Wednesday targeted a terminal at the country's international airport, killing one person, injuring over 60 more, and causing what officials described as "significant material damage."

United States

U.S. President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran are going "very well" and that a deal to end the conflict "could be reached by the end of the week." However, he added: "Who knows?"

The U.S. House voted 215-208 to require President Trump to seek congressional authorization for military action against Iran, with four Republicans joining Democrats. Though the measure is unlikely to become law, it marks the first successful House vote this year to curb Trump's war powers and a rebuke of his decision to engage in strikes against Iran without congressional approval.

Representative Thomas Massie voiced support for the Block Bombs Act, which aims to restrict offensive weapons transfers to Israel. Massie argued that Israel has used U.S.-supplied weapons to kill tens of thousands of civilians and contended that Washington has a moral obligation to end support for the devastation in Gaza.

Lebanon and Gaza

Several people were wounded in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle on the Zefta-Kfarwa road in southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency. The attack came after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire following a series of meetings in Washington, mediated by U.S. officials.

In Gaza, at least nine Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings. Witnesses said families were sleeping when the attacks began, while rescue teams worked through fire and rubble to reach those trapped inside.

Satellite imagery analyzed by Al Jazeera shows Israeli forces continuing to expand their presence in Gaza despite the October ceasefire. The investigation identified 40 military bases across the territory, including eight built after the ceasefire agreement took effect.