Israel strike sparks fresh tensions as US pushes Iran deal

By Lawrence Agbo
Efforts by the United States to secure a breakthrough agreement with Iran faced renewed uncertainty on Sunday after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut triggered sharp reactions from Tehran and threatened to derail months of diplomatic engagement.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly predicted an imminent deal to end months of regional conflict, said the agreement was only hours away from being signed before Israel’s latest military action complicated efforts to secure a final accord.
Speaking to US media, Trump expressed frustration over the strike, which targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
According to him,...