Slow progress on the peace deal as Iran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Hezbollah opposes disarmament.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed efforts Friday by France and Italy to establish an international coalition to replace his country’s United Nations peacekeeping force, whose mandate expires at the end of the year.

The peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has approximately 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries. It has been in existence since 1978, although its presence has not prevented repeated outbreaks of conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed forces in Lebanon.

Last August, the UN Security Council, under US pressure, decided to end UNIFIL’s mandate on December 31, 2026.

In a statement, Aoun called the European initiative “a sincere demonstration of international commitment to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.”

On Thursday, after meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy Georgia Meloni, the President of France Emmanuel Macron said that the two countries “want to present an alliance for the post-UNIFIL arrangement, obviously in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations, to strengthen the sovereignty of Lebanon and that of its armed forces” and to prevent the Lebanese territory from being used “as a regional base.”

UNIFIL says seven of its soldiers have died in Lebanon since the Hezbollah-Israel war broke out in early March.

A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry scoffed at President Trump’s comment that “food is badly needed in Iran,” citing US food poverty statistics.

“Charity begins at home – and it is most needed there,” wrote Esmail Baqaei on Friday on the X site, before he wrote more statistics about the increase in numbers. Americans are facing food insecurity.

The “solution” from the US authorities? In September 2024, the USDA quietly released its 30th annual report on household food insecurity – effectively ending official tracking and acknowledging hunger in America. Therefore, after ‘solving’ the domestic famine by simply stopping the reports, Washington now feels it is appropriate to teach elsewhere,” Baqai wrote to the world about the famine.

President Trump also said on Thursday that Tehran would be forced to buy wheat, corn and soybeans from the US with long-frozen Iranian currency to be released as part of the peace process – a claim that Iranian authorities have denied.

“Food is in great need in Iran, and we will be buying it for them only from the United States,” the president wrote on Truth Social, calling it a victory for American farmers.

CBS News producer in Tehran, Seyed Bathaei, reports that, while soaring inflation has left Iranians struggling to make ends meet, there are no signs of food shortages in the capital.

The head of Hezbollah reiterated the Iranian-backed group’s refusal to disarm, calling it “Israel’s agenda.”

In a speech on Friday, Naim Qassem, secretary-general of the Iran-backed group, said the Lebanese government must cooperate with Hezbollah and “reject pressure from Arab countries and foreign countries to drag Lebanon into internal conflicts, reconciliation with Israel, or policies that serve Israel’s interests.”

Qassem said that other countries told the Lebanese government: “Lay down your weapons, and we will help you,” which he dismissed as Israel’s demand, adding that “The resistance will continue – with its presence, its organization, its decisions, and its power. Now it is the basis of Lebanon’s freedom and independence, and it will continue.”

The Lebanese government has sought, and negotiated for months with the US, disarming Hezbollah.

Israeli leaders have made it clear that until Hezbollah is no longer a threat, they will not withdraw Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

The agreement made by the US and Iran shows that “we have defeated the Israeli-American plan,” the head of Hezbollah said on Friday.

“The United States and Israel also want to eliminate Iran,” said the party’s general secretary, Naim Qassem, in a speech to celebrate Ashoura, an important day in Shi’ism.

But with the help of Hezbollah, “Iran stood firm,” he added. “It came to a compromise, which was a formal admission of defeat for the United States and Israel.”

Qassem thanked Iran and added that the next stage of the war will be to “defeat the Israeli project and prepare the way for the removal of the Israeli organization from our world.”

Israel must “withdraw completely” and “without conditions” from Lebanon, the head of Hezbollah said on Friday in a televised speech to celebrate the Shiite Muslim anniversary of Ashoura.

“Israel has no choice but to withdraw completely from all areas of Lebanon and end all forms of violence,” said Naim Qassam, secretary general of the Iran-backed group.

“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel is in Lebanon because Hezbollah is firing rockets at it,” he continued. “No. Israel is in Lebanon because it wants to swallow Lebanon. Israel is in Lebanon because it wants to take it as part of the Greater Israel plan.”

Referring to the peace talks between Israel and Lebanon, he added: “No agreement that compromises Lebanon’s sovereignty will be accepted… there is no normalcy, no end to the state of hostilities, no benefit to Israel, and no continued presence of Israelis on Lebanese soil. Israel must walk away humiliated and defeated – and that is exactly what will happen.”

Hezbollah and Israel agreed to a new deal made by the US last week, but both continued to attack, saying they were in response to ceasefire violations by the other side.

President Trump also said Iran is expected to buy US wheat, corn and soybeans – a claim Iran’s top negotiator denied.

“All over the world, we’re opening markets for farmers,” the president said Thursday at a White House event with farmers. “And we have another, new market coming up, called the beautiful country of Iran.”

The president continued the Rose Garden event: “We’re going to be taking some of their money and we’re going to use it, and we’re going to be buying wheat, soybeans and corn. A lot. And that process will start very soon.”

Mr. Trump made a similar announcement on Tuesday, writing on Truth Social that any authorized Iranian funds released by the US Treasury “will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, from the United States only.” He created this program as a success for American farmers.

But the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who helped lead the talks with the US, called that false in a statement on Thursday.

“The only harvest we reap is what we sowed: mistrust for decades. It is natural, abundant and home-grown,” wrote Ghalibaf.

Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rammed a Singapore-flagged merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official confirmed to CBS News.

A cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an “unidentified projectile” on Thursday evening off the coast of Oman, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations. An American official confirmed that the ship was hit by an Iranian drone.

The US-approved route for ships to navigate the Strait of Hormuz includes hugging the coast of Oman, while Iran has asked ships to navigate the northern route.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the agency established by Iran to manage transport through the Strait of Hormuz, said in a statement after the attack, “Any passage on routes outside the framework designated by the PGSA will not be guaranteed safe passage and will not be entitled to insurance or related liabilities.”

It added, “Consequences arising from passing through unauthorized routes will be the responsibility of the owner, operator, and master of the vessel.”

The vessel was damaged on the bridge, but no one was injured, according to the UKMTO, which is receiving reports of suspicious activity from all vessels in the Gulf region.

The ship continued its journey following the strike.

Read more here.

The UN maritime agency has temporarily suspended the evacuation of ships in the Strait of Hormuz after the British military said a ship was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman on Thursday.

The head of the International Maritime Organization said the transfer program for ships stranded in the port will be suspended until the agency can confirm the safety guarantees of the ships on the exit list and the region.

“I was informed of the attack today in the Gulf of Oman,” IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez told X. “The safety of seafarers remains paramount. To ensure the orderly passage and safety of the ship, the IMO evacuation plan will be suspended until further clarification.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rammed a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official confirmed to CBS News.

CBS/AFP