Ceasefire Deal Appears Closer as Fighting and Drone Attacks Continue

As reports swirled about a nearing understanding between Iran and the United States, violence continued overnight and into the morning. U.S. Central Command said it successfully intercepted several Iranian attack drones aimed at the Strait of Hormuz, adding that commercial traffic there remained open and unhindered. Iranian state media described the explosions near the port of Sirik and Qeshm Island as warning fire in the strait.

At the same time, Hezbollah launched drones toward northern Israel, triggering air-raid sirens in Metula and Misgav Am. Lebanese media also reported Israeli strikes in several villages in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials said earlier this week that any Hezbollah fire intended to cross the border would prompt an Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, despite Iranian threats of retaliation.

An unnamed senior U.S. official said Washington expects to sign a potential framework agreement within days, putting the odds at 80% to 85%. He said the deal would remove and destroy Iran’s enriched material, give the United States custody of it, and place Iran’s nuclear program under monitoring, with any sanctions relief tied to compliance. He also said the sides would then hold 60 days of technical talks. He did not address ballistic missiles, and said Israel would cooperate once it sees the full terms.

Israeli officials reacted angrily, with one telling Ynet, “Trump screwed us,” and another calling the emerging deal a “catastrophe.” The U.S. official said the deal would also open the Strait of Hormuz and stop Iranian support for terror groups, but Iranian media published a very different set of claimed terms, including a full end to the war, a U.S. pledge not to interfere in Iran, sanctions relief, a $300 billion reconstruction plan, and a 60-day period in which $24 billion in frozen funds would be released. Donald Trump called those reports “fake news” and attacked Iran as “very disrespectful and dishonest,” while Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said a final draft had been reached. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the memorandum was “closer than ever” and urged the media not to speculate. Separately, Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates had agreed to unfreeze billions of dollars for Iran, but the UAE denied releasing any frozen funds or transferring money to or through it.