STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
The United States and Iran spent another weekend of their ceasefire not ceasing fire.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
The latest exchange of missiles began in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranians say Iran alone has control. Iran opposed a U.N.-backed plan, fired on ships, starting a whole new round of attacks with the U.S. The latest missiles yesterday went after U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
INSKEEP: In a moment, we'll hear from Jake Sullivan - former U.S. national security adviser - with long experience with Iran. We begin with NPR's Carrie Kahn, who's in Tel Aviv. Hi there, Carrie.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hi.
INSKEEP: OK. I just got to ask, are the ceasefire peace talks - the continuing peace talks still on?
KAHN: President Trump just posted on his social media platform that, quote, "Iran has requested a meeting," and he said it will take place tomorrow in Doha. Iran's deputy foreign minister earlier today, however, was quoted by Iranian media saying that consultations continue with the mediator Qatar but that technical talks with the U.S. are not yet planned for this week and will be held only when, quote, "the conditions are met." And he did not elaborate.
INSKEEP: And yet we did have this exchange of fire. What happened over the weekend?
KAHN: In recent days, Iran struck two ships attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz. These ships were going through this newly coordinated route that hugged the coast of Oman, which shares part of the strait with Iran. Last week, the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization and Oman set up this route. Iran says it is a violation of the preliminary plan for permanent peace. After Iran's attack on the first ship, the U.S. then struck multiple drone, missile and radar sites in Iran. Then Iran fired into Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation.
INSKEEP: OK. If Iran is striking ships on their way through the strait, is the strait open?
KAHN: Well, we'll see. Traffic did drop over the weekend, according to monitoring groups. But the conflict over who controls the Strait of Hormuz continues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is just in the region and told Gulf allies it will remain open. But yesterday, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was adamant. He said any alternative or, quote, "separate arrangements" for the strait will lead to complications.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ABBAS ARAGHCHI: (Non-English language spoken).
KAHN: "The responsibility for these arrangements lies with Iran and no other entity or country," he said.
INSKEEP: OK. So we've got two major sticking points in negotiations. One we've just been discussing, the Strait of Hormuz. The other is Lebanon, where Israeli troops remain in the southern part of the country, and they say they're going to stay there. But Israel did reach an agreement with Lebanon's government. What's going on there?
KAHN: Yes. A deal was reached between the U.S., Israel and the Lebanese government late Friday. Israel says it's historic, with the Lebanese army agreeing to disarm Hezbollah. Hezbollah, however, was not part of those talks, and its leader over the weekend condemned the deal and demanded Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Last night I spoke with Ophir Falk. He's the foreign affairs adviser to Israel's prime minister, and I asked him repeatedly, how is this deal going to work without Hezbollah signing on and given the Lebanese army's poor track record? And here's what he said.
OPHIR FALK: There's only going to be one weapon in Lebanon, and it's going to be the Lebanese government. It's historic that they recognize Israel's sovereignty, and they seek peace with Israel. They're saying that straight out.
KAHN: He said Israel has laid the path for the Lebanese army by greatly degrading Hezbollah's military might. But, Steve, fighting continued over the weekend, too. Despite the deal, authorities in Lebanon and Israel say there were multiple deaths in Lebanon, and one Israeli soldier was killed.
INSKEEP: Carrie, thanks for the update.
KAHN: You're welcome.
INSKEEP: That's NPR's Carrie Kahn in Tel Aviv. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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