Report: US efforts with Iran may be paying off, Hezbollah 'wild card'

U.S. President Joe Biden over the past week conducted an intense round of diplomacy and military preparation to stave off a catastrophic war in the Middle East, the Washington Post has reported.

“The White House effort has included back-channel talks with Iran to urge restraint, blunt warnings to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to obstruct a cease-fire in Gaza, and the dispatch of a U.S. naval and air armada to protect Israel and other U.S. allies if deterrence fails,” the U.S. newspaper said.

“The risk of a devastating regional war remains uncomfortably high. But White House officials said Tuesday they believe Biden’s efforts may be paying off. Iran may be reconsidering a plan for major retaliation after last Wednesday’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, is still a wild card,” the daily quoted officials as saying.

The Iranian response has been complicated by seeming confusion over the circumstances of Haniyeh’s death. Tehran at first claimed he was killed by an Israeli missile, requiring a similar Iranian response. But officials say that Tehran has concluded privately that he was instead eliminated by a concealed bomb, perhaps prompting a different response. The Iranian regime is said to have conducted similar targeted attacks in third countries.

Tehran may also be dissuaded by the U.S. show of force this week, and secret White House communications passed via the Swiss embassy in Tehran and the Iranian mission at the United Nations.

“Iran understands clearly that the United States is unwavering in its defense of our interests, our partners and our people. We have moved a significant amount of military assets to the region to underscore that principle,” a senior administration official told the Washington Post.

U.S. messages to Iran have also made clear that the risk of a major escalation is extremely high, with serious consequences for the stability of the new government of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Since the recent “contentious” phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, the Israeli leader “has moved toward the U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal,” the newspaper said.

“As of last week, Netanyahu was insisting on changes in the U.S.-negotiated formula that mediators feared would be dealbreakers. This week, he is said to have advised at least one member of his right-wing coalition that he supports the pact without amendments,” the daily reported.

“The United States stands firmly behind the cease-fire and hostage release deal that is now on the table,” a senior U.S. administration official told the newspaper. “All that’s left are issues surrounding the implementation of the deal. We are prepared to push this to closure,” the official added.