Iran says 'no point' in US peace talks after Israel strikes Beirut

Iran warned on Sunday that there was "no point" in continuing peace talks with the United States, after its ally Israel carried out strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. Chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of failing to uphold its commitments, throwing into doubt a deal that Donald Trump had insisted would be signed that day.

Why did Iran say there is no point in peace talks with the U.S.?

Iran's position is that the U.S. either lacks the will or the ability to stop Israel from taking military action, making negotiations meaningless. Ghalibaf said Washington cannot offer concessions to Iran while simultaneously giving Israel "the green light." If the U.S. cannot enforce its own commitments, he argued, continuing down the path of talks serves no purpose.

What did Israel strike in Beirut and why?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the military struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut's Dahiyeh neighborhood, citing rocket fire toward Israeli territory. Lebanese state media reported a strike on the Ghobeiry area. Lebanon's civil defense agency said the attack killed at least three people and wounded six. Israel also issued evacuation warnings for 29 villages in southern Lebanon on the same day.

What was Trump's timeline for an Iran peace deal?

Trump had said on Saturday that a deal was "scheduled to get signed tomorrow" and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately upon signing. Pakistan, a key mediator in the talks, had also indicated Sunday as the planned signing date. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, however, said the day before that no signing would take place Sunday, while leaving open the possibility of a deal "in the coming days."

What are the main sticking points in the Iran-U.S. negotiations?

Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a central dispute. Iran has demanded vessels obtain permission from its armed forces before transiting the waterway and has collected tolls since imposing its blockade, which has disrupted global markets. The U.S. has called this unacceptable and responded with its own blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's foreign minister said Friday that any deal must include lifting the U.S. naval blockade.

What is the status of Iran's nuclear program in the talks?

Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium is another unresolved issue. The U.S., Israel and Western governments suspect Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, though Tehran insists its program is peaceful. Trump said the U.S. would retrieve and destroy the uranium, referring to it as "nuclear dust," while Iran's foreign minister said it must be diluted inside Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said Trump had assured him any agreement would require removal of the enriched material.

Is Qatar involved in the Iran peace talks?

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday to help finalize the agreement, according to a diplomat with knowledge of the situation. Qatar has been acting as a mediator alongside Pakistan. Despite that diplomatic activity, Iran's Fars news agency cited a source close to the Iranian negotiating team as saying Tehran had "not yet taken or announced its final decision" on signing.