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Friday's key developments
• Lebanon ceasefire: Israel and Hezbollah renewed their truce after the conflict jeopardized US-Iran negotiations. The militant group and Israel said they’ll abide by the truce but warned against violations from the other. Lebanon said Friday was the second deadliest day of Israeli strikes during the current conflict.
• US negotiators head to talks: Envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Switzerland, a US official said, as Washington and Tehran work to get technical talks back on track after a postponement. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is also expected to join. Negotiators face a 60-day deadline to reach a final deal.
• US-Israel ties: Trump offered warm praise for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as tensions resurfaced in recent days over Israel’s offensive in Lebanon and its impact on the US-Iran agreement.
Witkoff and Kushner head to Switzerland for Iran talks, US official says
President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to Switzerland, a US official said, as the US and Iran work to get technical talks back on track.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son in law, is also expected to be in Switzerland to join potential negotiations.
When those talks will occur remains unclear. The next round was set to begin Friday, but was abruptly scrapped amid a flare up in violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
Witkoff and Kushner had led negotiations with Iran to reach the initial memorandum of understanding.
Vice President JD Vance is also prepared to fly for talks at the “first available opportunity,” the White House said Thursday.
Is it safe for ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz?
With the Strait of Hormuz officially open to commercial shipping traffic following the US-Iran agreement signed on June 17, the complex question of how long it will take de-mine the crucial waterway remains.
Thursday saw the highest number of vessels traversing the strait since April, according to marine intelligence firm AXSMarine. At least 12 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, including 5 tankers and 7 cargo ships, data from Marine Traffic showed.
While traffic in the strait appears to be rebounding, it is still far below pre-war levels which saw an average of 110 vessels crossing the strait daily.
Iran will be tasked with neutralizing mines and clearing obstacles, as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding with the US, but experts warn the task requires painstaking precision and it could take weeks for sailing to normalize.
Iran has warned the owners and captains of all ships intending to transit the strait that they must receive a permit and insurance before being allowed to enter the vital waterway in order to ensure the “safe passage of commercial vessels.”
Tehran’s newly created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) said ships must “strictly adhere” to a fixed route near Larak Island in the waterway. The vessel’s owner and master will assume full responsibility for any resultant damage, the PGSA said.
Iran alerted several ships stating that they do not have permission to transit overnight, according to a situational update from the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO).
It is expected that a “mine danger area” will be issued as a navigational warning available upon request from the US, INTERTANKO said.
The maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz was downgraded to ‘moderate’ by the the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Thursday.
CNN’s Avery Schmidtz, Rupert Neate and Adam Pourahmadi contributed reporting.
Trump praises Netanyahu as Israel and Hezbollah renew ceasefire
President Donald Trump on Friday offered warm praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as tensions have surfaced in recent days over Israel’s fighting in Lebanon and its impact on the US-Iran agreement.
“We were very formidable, and Bibi Netanyahu is a warrior prime minister, and he should be acknowledged as that,” Trump said during remarks at Joint Base Andrews while unveiling a new president plane gifted by the Qataris. “They should give him credit, because he really did.”
Trump’s comments come just days after he and his administration sharply and repeatedly criticized Israeli officials, amid fears that military operations in Lebanon could derail US-Iran negotiations.
Just a day earlier, Vice President JD Vance spurred outrage in Israel when he said that Trump “is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
Israel and Hezbollah have since agreed to renew a ceasefire, after a series of deadly strikes led to Vance canceling a planned trip to formally sign the US-Iran agreement.
What key parties are saying about the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
A renewed truce was reached between Israel and Hezbollah after the two sides traded fire overnight, potentially imperiling negotiations to reach a final peace deal between the United States and Iran.
Officials from Israel and Lebanon are expected to participate in another round of diplomatic meetings in Washington next week.
Some key context: The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the Israeli military killed at least 47 people in strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday. The strikes came after four Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
Here’s a look at what each party is saying so far:
- Israel: Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said Israel remains “firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire” if “Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases its hostilities.” IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said earlier Friday that Israel will continue operating in southern Lebanon, and accused Hezbollah of launching hundreds of explosive drones and rockets at Israeli civilians and soldiers.
- Hezbollah: Officials from the Iran-backed militant group cast doubt on the utility of a renewed ceasefire, but tentatively agreed to avoid further conflict. “We will abide by the ceasefire if Israel abides by it, and we have the right to respond,” Hezbollah parliamentary member Ibrahim al-Moussawi said in a statement to Qatar-based Al-Araby TV.
- Lebanon: President Joseph Aoun underscored in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the need for a “comprehensive ceasefire” to end all Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s territory, his office said.
- US President Donald Trump: Trump told NBC News he spoke with Israel earlier Friday and encouraged them to agree to a ceasefire, but declined to say whether he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has voiced confidence in his ability to prevent further Israeli attacks, saying in an interview with Axios before the ceasefire announcement that Israel will “do as I say.”
- Iran: Meantime, talks with mediators are underway to reorganize the first round of technical negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Tehran pulled out of the talks, which were originally expected to get underway in Switzerland this weekend, following the renewed fighting in Lebanon.
CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Mitchell McCluskey, Charbel Mallo, Jennifer Hansler, Mustafa Qadri, Adam Pourahmadi, Oren Liebermann and Alejandra Jaramillo contributed reporting to this post.
Trump says he urged Israel to agree to ceasefire with Hezbollah
President Donald Trump said Friday that he urged Israel to support a ceasefire with Hezbollah, after a renewed truce was reached between the two sides.
Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News that he spoke with Israel earlier Friday and encouraged them to agree to a ceasefire, but declined to say whether he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It’s a positive,” Trump said. “It’s a little icing on the cake,” he added, referring to the memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran to end the war.
Trump also touted his relationship with Netanyahu.
“I’ve always been good with Bibi,” he said. “You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head.”
The president’s comments come as Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a renewed ceasefire, multiple sources familiar with the situation told CNN.
Trump says he can prevent Israeli attacks on Lebanon: "They do as I say"
President Donald Trump said in an interview released Friday that he believes he can prevent Israel from attacking Lebanon.
Asked by Axios reporter Marc Caputo whether he was able to control Israel from attacking Lebanon, Trump replied: “Yeah, I will be.”
“They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say,” Trump added.
Trump’s comments came before Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, following one of the deadliest days of the conflict. Israeli strikes killed at least 47 people in Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese government, making it the second deadliest day since the fighting began.
Israel “firmly committed” to ceasefire in Lebanon, Israeli ambassador to US says
Israel remains “firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire” in Lebanon, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said in a statement on social media on Friday.
“If Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases its hostilities, they will be met with quiet,” Leiter said. The ambassador’s statement is the first public acknowledgement of the ceasefire since sources told CNN that mediators had brought both Israel and Hezbollah to renew the cessation of hostilities.
Earlier in the day, Hezbollah said in a statement to Qatar-based Al-Araby TV that they “will abide by the ceasefire if Israel abides by it.”
Leiter is set to take part in next week’s talks between Israel and Lebanon in the newest round of diplomatic meetings between the two countries held in Washington under the auspices of the Trump administration.
Lebanon's president pushes for "comprehensive ceasefire" in call with Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun about the situation in Lebanon as Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after trading attacks on Friday.
During the phone call, Rubio “reaffirmed the United States’ full support for the Government of Lebanon’s efforts to create a fully sovereign Lebanese state that is at peace with all its neighbors,” according to a readout from the US State Department.
Aoun thanked Rubio for his support and underscored the need for a “comprehensive ceasefire” to end all Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s territory, the office of the Lebanese leader said in a statement.
He described that condition as a “fundamental pillar” for advancing US-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel.
“These negotiations aim to achieve the core objectives on which they were launched: restoring Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
Rubio added that the bilateral negotiations between the two governments are “the only feasible path to reconstruction, economic recovery, and ending recurrent cycles of violence.”
What the ceasefire in Lebanon could mean for US-Iran peace talks
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a renewed ceasefire, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
CNN’s Nic Robertson explains how the truce in Lebanon could pave the way for the US and Iran to work toward a peace agreement:
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a renewed ceasefire, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. CNN's Nic Robertson explains how the truce could pave the way for the US and Iran to work towards a peace agreement.
In pictures: On the ground in Lebanon amid intensified Israeli bombing
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew a ceasefire, sources told CNN, after fighting between the Israeli military and the Iran-backed militant group jeopardized US-Iran negotiations.
Israeli strikes killed at least 47 people Friday, according to the Lebanese government, making it the second deadliest day for the country during the current conflict. The wave of bombing followed a Hezbollah attack that killed four Israeli soldiers.
Photos from the past few days show the extent of the damage in Lebanon during Israel’s military offensive:
US may be “a little bit worse off” now than before the Iran war, Obama says
Former US President Barack Obama said in an interview that aired today that while he is “very happy to see a ceasefire,” the United States may be “a little bit worse off” than before the Iran war began in February.
“There was a deal in place, in which Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons. This administration, or a prior version of this administration, pulled out of it, which caused then Iran to develop more nuclear capacity,” Obama told NBC News’ “Today Show.”
“We’ve now fought a war, spent billions and billions of dollars, you know, put enormous strain on our military. A lot of people have died, and it feels like we’re back where we were before we started the war except maybe a little bit worse off,” Obama said.
The interview was taped earlier in the week in Chicago as Obama’s presidential center was set to open.
The comments come after the US and Iran agreed over the weekend on a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement also sets out expectations for addressing Iran’s nuclear program during future technical talks.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the 2015 Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, saying it created a path to Iran having a nuclear weapon. Trump withdrew from that deal in 2018 and has said his memorandum would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Obama told ABC’s Robin Roberts in an interview Monday that it is “doubtful” that any agreement would be “significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place.”
Iran says it is working with mediators to reorganize technical talks with US
Talks with mediators are underway to reorganize the first round of technical negotiations between Washington and Tehran, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.
Tehran pulled out of the talks, which were originally expected to get underway in Switzerland this weekend, following renewed fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which threatened to derail the diplomatic efforts.
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters the next round of talks was no longer as urgent because a memorandum of understanding with the US has already been digitally signed, according to a statement posted on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Telegram channel.
The statement said further negotiations can only begin once some of the key components from the 14-point US-Iran agreement are met.
These include ending the conflict in Lebanon, lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, allowing vessels to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz without any charges, terminating Iran’s sanctions and unfreezing its assets, according to Baghaei.
Nuclear site visits: The Foreign Ministry also denied reports that Iran had invited the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to inspect all of its nuclear facilities.
The ministry said the IAEA will not be invited to nuclear sites that were attacked by the US and Israel but can continue to monitor other sites, like Bushehr in south Iran.
Hezbollah officials express uncertainty around renewed ceasefire with Israel
Hezbollah officials have cast doubt on the utility of a renewed ceasefire with Israel, but tentatively agreed to avoid further conflict.
Israel carried out a series of strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, killing dozens, after a Hezbollah attack killed four Israeli soldiers.
Both sides then agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Qatar, the US and Iran.
“We will abide by the ceasefire if Israel abides by it, and we have the right to respond,” Hezbollah parliamentary member Ibrahim al-Moussawi said in a statement to Qatar-based Al-Araby TV.
A Hezbollah leader told CNN that their fighters will respect the ceasefire while accusing Israel of aiming to disrupt the agreement between Iran and the US.
The official rejected the notion that Israeli troops have the right to operate in southern Lebanon under the agreement and argued that this “justifies Lebanon’s right to resist this occupation.”
The movement and actions of Israeli forces in Lebanon will receive “a suitable response,” the Hezbollah leader cautioned.
Earlier, Hezbollah released a statement outlining that it would “remain on guard against any attack” from Israel.
The group added that Israel “has not adhered for a single day to any ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli troops will continue operating in south Lebanon, IDF spokesman says
Israel will continue operating in southern Lebanon after four Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Effie Defrin said on Friday.
Defrin accused Hezbollah of launching hundreds of explosive drones and rockets at Israeli civilians and soldiers.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that the Israeli military killed at least 47 people in strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday.
Amid the crossfire, Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew a ceasefire, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
“We will continue to remove immediate threats, respond to Hezbollah’s violations, and do whatever is necessary to protect our civilians,” Defrin said, “Our mission remains the same: to ensure that Hezbollah cannot rebuild itself and pose a threat to our civilians.”
Israel has previously signaled its plans to control parts of Lebanon after the end of the conflict.
In March, Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, reiterated that their troops would remain positioned in southern Lebanon to “maintain security control” over the entire area up to the Litani River, some 15 to 20 miles north of the Israeli border.
Lebanon suffers second deadliest day since war began as Israeli attacks kill 47
The Israeli military killed at least 47 people in Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese health ministry, making it the second deadliest day since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah flared in early March.
The ministry said two children were among the victims from strikes across a swath of southern Lebanon, which came after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers overnight.
Also on Friday, multiple sources told CNN Israel and Hezbollah had resolved a ceasefire deal that was expected to begin at 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET).
It’s not the first time Israeli forces have released their most lethal salvos as diplomats announced fresh ceasefire deals in Lebanon, highlighting the tenuous nature of such agreements.
The single deadliest day of the conflict in Lebanon occurred on April 17, when at least 98 people were killed as Washington ordered a ceasefire to come into effect between Israel and Lebanon. Both parties accused each other of violating the terms of the truce – which Hezbollah was not party to.
Human Rights Watch has warned that Israel’s “killing of civilians” and “displacement of hundreds of thousands” of people have “continued unabated despite the declaration of a ceasefire.”
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew ceasefire, sources say
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew a ceasefire, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The ceasefire was expected to start at 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) and was mediated by the US and Qatar, according to one person familiar. Another diplomatic source with knowledge of the situation said the deal was mediated by Qatar, the US and Iran.
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces refused to acknowledge a ceasefire in a briefing on Friday afternoon.
“We continue to act according to the political directives in place. Unless those directives change, we will continue operating accordingly,” the spokesperson said.
Remember: Israeli forces released a fresh wave of strikes in Lebanon on Friday — killing at least 21 people — after Hezbollah killed four soldiers in the country’s south.
Iran swiftly condemned Israel’s bombing and warned that any agreement with the US is contingent upon a ceasefire in Lebanon, citing the first clause of an initial framework signed by the two parties.
US Vice President JD Vance was initially set to travel to Switzerland for a first round of technical talks with Tehran on Friday, but the negotiations were postponed as Iran sought guarantees that hostilities in Lebanon would end. Vance has criticized Israel’s offensive as having jeopardized the fraught negotiations.
Clock ticks on final US-Iran agreement as talks are delayed. Here's what to know
The clock is ticking for the United States and Iran to finalize a peace deal within 60 days, but technical negotiations have not begun Friday in Switzerland as initially planned.
Before entering talks, Iranian officials said they needed guarantees that Israel would stop its attacks in Lebanon, which continued overnight even as the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran stipulates an end to “military operations on all fronts.”
Israel and Hezbollah have since agreed to renew a ceasefire, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what to know today:
- Ceasefire: The renewed truce between Israel and Hezbollah was expected to take effect starting at 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET), according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
- Postponed talks: It comes after US Vice President JD Vance canceled his trip to Switzerland, where more negotiations with Iran were planned this weekend. Seeking to keep the delicate diplomatic process on track, Washington had told Tehran that Israel agreed not to further escalate attacks against Hezbollah, a source told CNN. Deep mistrust hangs over the ceasefire agreement.
- Trading fire in Lebanon: The Israeli military killed at least 47 people in strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the Lebanese health ministry, making it the second deadliest day since hostilities flared in March. The strikes came after four Israeli soldiers were killed in the south when a Hezbollah explosive hit a tank, the military said.
- Far-right pressure in Israel: Netanyahu is under pressure to escalate in Lebanon from hardliners in his government. Far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said “all of Lebanon should burn” and called for attacks on the capital Beirut.
- Hezbollah reaction: The militant group has accused Israel of “escalating violations” of the ceasefire. In a statement, Hezbollah said it “will remain vigilant against any aggression,” accusing Israel of “committing massacres” and “destroying residential buildings.”
- Pakistan-Iran call: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke Friday with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry. The two leaders discussed the next phase of the peace plan with the US and the latest fighting in Lebanon, a statement said.
- Strait of Hormuz: A total of 25 commercial ships crossed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday — the most since April, according to marine intelligence firm AXSMarine. The US-Iran agreement promised to “immediately” re-open the vital waterway. Tehran has said ships passing through the strait must register to ensure “safe passage” but will not face tolls during the 60-day period covered by the current agreement.
CNN’s Rupert Neate, Eyad Kourdi, Eugenia Yosef, Charbel Mallo and Sana Noor Haq contributed reporting to this post, which has been updated for the latest developments.
Iran's foreign minister slams Israeli minister for "Lebanon must burn" comment
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned a comment by Israel’s far-right national security minister Friday that “all of Lebanon should burn,” accusing the Israeli government of wanting “permanent war.”
Itamar Ben Gvir made the comment after a Hezbollah explosive device killed four Israeli soldiers on Lebanese territory overnight.
“This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It’s a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime,” said Araghchi in a post on X condemning Ben Gvir.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are running high after the deaths of the soldiers. That could threaten peace talks between the US and Iran that hinge on a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Iran has asked for guarantees that hostilities in Lebanon will end before it resumes talks with the US in Switzerland, a diplomat with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
Iran says ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz must register to ensure "safe passage"
Iran has warned the owners and captains of all ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz that they must register for — and receive — a permit and insurance before being allowed to enter the vital waterway.
Tehran’s newly-created Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) said on Friday that all ships must comply with its terms and conditions to ensure “safe passage of commercial vessels”.
Registration and insurance will be free of charge during the 60-day period covered by the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the US and Iran earlier this week. However, Iran has indicated that it may charge fees after that period.
“During the 60-day period, tariffs for security, safety, and environmental services, as well as related Iranian insurances, will not be collected from shipowners and will be borne by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it said.
US President Donald Trump insisted on Tuesday that the strait would be open “toll-free during the first 60 days and thereafter.” The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Iran’s indication that it could introduce fees.
The PSGA also warned ship owners and captains that all vessels must follow a strictly designated course through the strait to avoid mines. “Failure to comply shall be the responsibility of the vessel owner,” it said.
The fresh conditions of passage came as traffic through the strait finally started to increase following months of very limited movements due to fears of attack from Iran.
A total of 25 commercial ships crossed through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday — the most since April, according to marine intelligence firm AXSMarine.
