U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the war between Iran and Israel is "close to over" as new peace talks gain momentum, marking a significant shift in regional diplomacy. The comments came during a White House press briefing where Trump also confirmed that Washington is facilitating direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon—the first such discussions in more than three decades. The talks, hosted in Geneva, brought together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leading the American delegation. Trump described the dialogue as "unthinkable just months ago" and credited his administration's diplomatic efforts for the breakthrough.
The negotiations focus on resolving long-standing disputes over maritime borders and offshore energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, areas rich in natural gas reserves. Both Netanyahu and Diab confirmed their participation but offered no joint statement, underscoring the fragile nature of the engagement. Iran, while not directly involved in the Israel-Lebanon talks, has been engaged in separate backchannel discussions with U.S. officials, according to senior administration sources. Trump, who previously threatened military action against Iran, now says "a deal is possible" and that Tehran has signaled willingness to de-escalate. The president did not provide a timeline for ending U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports, a key demand from Tehran.
The next round of talks is scheduled for later this month in Brussels, with the European Union expected to play a larger mediating role. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the developments, calling them a "step toward stability" in a volatile region. No formal ceasefire has been announced between Iran and Israel, but both sides have observed a reduction in cross-border strikes over the past six weeks.
Trump's assertion that the Iran-Israel conflict is nearing an end stands in sharp contrast to years of escalating tensions, including the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. The shift follows a pattern of high-stakes personal diplomacy by Trump, who has bypassed traditional foreign policy channels to position himself as a dealmaker despite minimal congressional or multilateral oversight.
This diplomatic turn reflects a broader recalibration of Middle East alliances, where energy interests and shared concerns over Iranian influence are driving unexpected partnerships. The involvement of Lebanon, a nation with strong Hezbollah ties, in direct talks with Israel suggests that even deeply entrenched hostilities may be yielding to economic and geopolitical pragmatism, particularly as Eastern Mediterranean gas reserves become more central to regional power dynamics.
No direct Nigerian or African stake is mentioned in the talks, but any resolution that stabilizes oil and gas markets in the Middle East could influence global energy prices—a critical factor for Nigeria's hydrocarbon-dependent economy. Reduced volatility in energy supply routes may also ease shipping costs for African nations reliant on imported fuel.
The upcoming Brussels meeting will test whether these early talks translate into binding agreements, especially on maritime boundaries and sanctions relief.
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