Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

US Affirms Lebanon-Israel Maritime Border Demarcation Deal Is ‘Within Reach’

US Affirms Lebanon-Israel Maritime Border Demarcation Deal Is ‘Within Reach’

The US is working to resolve disputes stalling the agreement for demarcating maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel, according to a message the US Department of State sent to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Although US mediator Amos Hochstein has presented a drafted agreement that meets Lebanon's demands in principle, complications arose and halted the conclusion of a deal that would pave the way for offshore energy exploration.

In a message to Asharq Al-Awsat, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price affirmed that Hochstein is contacting both sides and working to settle differences as negotiations enter their final stage.

Price confirmed that the US is still committed to arriving at a solution.

The US believes that "a lasting agreement is possible and within reach," added Price.

Hanin Ghaddar, a researcher at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, affirmed that a deal between the two enemy states is close, despite the delays and rising obstacles.

Both sides want a deal one way or another, and they will likely find a compromise, explained Ghaddar.

She warned that the Lebanon-based Hezbollah would try to present the deal as a victory to legitimize its weapons.

Hezbollah might also succeed in using the agreement to influence upcoming presidential elections and government formation, she told Asharq Al-Awsat.

It depends on timing, whether a deal is concluded before or after President Michel Aoun leaves office, clarified Ghaddar.

In Lebanon, everyone believes their country has given Israel significant concessions, a position which doesn't bode well for Hezbollah. According to the deal, Lebanon would need to provide Israel with compensation for the disputed Qana prospect indirectly.

Many in Lebanon criticize the lack of transparency surrounding the deal, said Ghaddar, adding that this also fuels feelings of mistrust.

On the international community's role in urging the Lebanese political class to reform and confront its corruption, Ghaddar said: "Two things are clear. The political class is not ready for reforms, and the international community is not mobilizing enough."

"Europe can start imposing sanctions on corrupt political figures, and the United States can do more with the Magnitsky Act," said Ghaddar.

The researcher concluded that no side seems ready to escalate at this point, possibly due to changes in international priorities.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
×