A man walks past a huge billboard depicting the assassinated Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and his son, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, accompanied by an inscription in Arabic: “Thank you Iran,” in the southern suburbs of Beirut, June 15, 2026. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
Iran deserves some credit because it has just brutally dispelled a series of illusions that long shaped part of Lebanon’s political debate. It has shown that the “Great Satan,” with whom it vowed never to compromise, can become a negotiating partner when the regime’s survival is at stake. It has shown that all the rallying slogans and “noble causes” used to justify so many wars and sacrifices do not necessarily rank among its priorities once serious negotiations begin. Above all, it has reminded everyone that when the regime’s vital interests come under threat, slogans give way to calculations and ideological rhetoric yields to compromise.Looking at the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, one reality stands out: each side appears to have secured what it wanted. The United States managed to reduce regional tensions, protect...
Iran deserves some credit because it has just brutally dispelled a series of illusions that long shaped part of Lebanon’s political debate. It has shown that the “Great Satan,” with whom it vowed never to compromise, can become a negotiating partner when the regime’s survival is at stake. It has shown that all the rallying slogans and “noble causes” used to justify so many wars and sacrifices do not necessarily rank among its priorities once serious negotiations begin. Above all, it has reminded everyone that when the regime’s vital interests come under threat, slogans give way to calculations and ideological rhetoric yields to compromise.Looking at the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, one reality stands out: each side appears to have secured what it wanted. The United States managed to reduce regional...
Israel in 'stubborn negotiations' with Washington to keep troops in southern Lebanon
