Zerohedge: US Tightens Iran Deal Terms Amid Escalation

Summary

President Trump has significantly hardened the conditions for a potential deal to end the war in Iran, sending new proposals to Tehran after its refusal to relinquish nuclear materials. This move is intended to increase pressure and accelerate negotiations, particularly concerning the unfreezing of Iranian funds, which some officials believe Trump opposes. Despite stalled talks and Iranian assertions that all current discussions are mere speculation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iran made a major misstep by attacking its neighbors, leading to greater international cooperation in freezing Iranian assets and blocking its ports, potentially forcing the shutdown of oil wells. Meanwhile, on another front, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered an expansion of military operations in Lebanon following the capture of Beaufort Castle, a move he described as a significant shift in strategy. The Israeli military claims to have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah fighters since mid-April, while Lebanon accuses Israel of employing a scorched-earth policy.