Israel, not Iran, is boxed in as Trump keeps chasing flimsy agreements

The article critiques US President Donald Trump's approach to Middle East conflicts, arguing that his reliance on flimsy agreements leaves Israel, not Iran, in a precarious position. Despite initial reports of impending US-Israeli strikes against Iran following missile attacks on US troops, Trump repeatedly backed down, claiming Iran had agreed to concessions, which Tehran denied. This pattern has eroded US leverage, as Iran continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, believing Trump will avoid major strikes due to potential energy price hikes.

• In Gaza, Trump's administration is pursuing an agreement to disarm Hamas, which the White House claims is a "historic breakthrough." However, Hamas officials, including Moussa Abu Marzouk, have explicitly denied any agreement to surrender weapons, stating, "never happened, not for a single moment did we talk about the surrender of weapons."
• Israel remains skeptical, noting that while the deal mandates the handover of heavy weapons and tunnels, the fate of light weapons is less clear, potentially allowing Hamas to pressure a new Palestinian government.
• A US-backed plan in Lebanon aims to disarm Hezbollah, but the central government lacks the capability or will to enforce it, and Hezbollah shows no signs of abandoning its weapons.