MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. The United States and Iran are working to maintain a fragile ceasefire through ongoing negotiations; NATO leaders will gather in Ankara amid divisions over Ukraine, Iran and the alliance's future course; and the European Union has postponed approval of its 21st sanctions package against Russia because of disagreements among member states. These stories topped Wednesday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: US, Iran seek to maintain fragile truce amid Lebanon tensions
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner, who have arrived in Doha, are preparing the basis for future consultations with the Iranian side that are expected to lead to a final agreement. At the same time, the dialogue is hindered by the vague wording of the Islamabad memorandum signed on June 17 and a parallel agreement on Lebanon. Under the latter, Beirut is obliged to disarm Hezbollah, but the group itself refuses to do so. Members of the Knesset told Izvestia that Israel does not believe Lebanon is capable of meeting these conditions, and therefore the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intend to retain freedom of action throughout Lebanese territory, including the capital.
