Iran Announces U.S. Blockade Lifted; Israel Cancels Hebron Agreement Clauses

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister announced that a U.S. naval blockade has been lifted, signaling a potential de-escalation in regional tensions. The text of an agreement between Iran and the United States is scheduled for signing this Friday at the Burgenstock hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland, according to the Swiss government.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the continuation of the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory violates the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. He emphasized that the end of the war in Iran and Lebanon are interconnected, adding that any future Israeli attack on Lebanon "will never be accepted," as cited by Al Jazeera.

In a separate development, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the cancellation of certain provisions of the 1997 Hebron Agreements during a ceremony for a new settlement south of Hebron. The original agreement, signed by Netanyahu and Arafat as part of the Oslo Accords, divided Hebron into Area H-1 under Palestinian control and Area H-2 under Israeli control, which includes the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Smotrich declared that a long-standing clause in the Oslo Accords, which placed planning and construction powers for the Jewish settlement in Hebron and the Tomb of the Patriarchs under the management of the Hebron municipality, known for its "hostile attitude," has been annulled. This cancellation means these powers will revert to full Israeli management.