Reports: US promises Gaza truce if Iran, Hezbollah don't retaliate

A proposal has been made to the Iran-led axis in the region, promising that the efforts to reach a Gaza truce will be expedited if Iran and Hezbollah choose not to retaliate against Israel over the recent assassinations, an informed source told Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper.

Lebanon’s al-Liwaa newspaper for its part said that “the U.S. is leading serious negotiations” in this regard.

The U.S. wants Hezbollah and Iran not to respond against Israel in return for “a declaration of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and finalizing the (prisoner) exchange deal,” al-Liwaa quoted sources as saying.

A senior Axis of Resistance leader confirmed the reports to al-Liwaa, but said that “the Axis rejects this bargain and the retaliation is certain.”

“Any negotiations would begin after the response and not before it,” the leader added.

Al-Akhbar newspaper for its part said that “intensive contacts were held over the past two days on the hope of reaching a truce in Gaza within days, which according to a U.S.-Egyptian assumption would precede the response of the Axis of Resistance.”

The White House insisted Wednesday that Israel and Hamas are still close to a ceasefire deal despite the growing fears of a regional war.

"We are as close as we think we have ever been" to a deal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

U.S. officials have said on several occasions in recent weeks that a deal is close, while urging both Israel and Hamas to accept the current proposal which would lead to an initial six-week truce.

On Tuesday the White House said negotiations had "reached a final stage," in a readout of calls between President Joe Biden and the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, but did not elaborate.

The United States is now working to prevent an all-out war in the region, and has moved planes and warships into the area to help defend Israel if necessary.

"We're involved in some pretty intense diplomacy here across the region," Kirby said.

He added that he was "not going to talk about intelligence assessments" of when, or whether, Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah might attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that he had told both Iran and U.S. ally Israel to avoid escalating conflict.