The recent conflict between Iran and Israel presents a critical opening for renewed peace efforts in the Middle East, according to Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria.
Tom Barrack © MEST
The recent conflict between Iran and Israel presents a critical opening for renewed peace efforts in the Middle East, according to Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy for Syria.
Speaking on Sunday, Barrack stressed the importance of establishing peace agreements between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon, describing the current moment as a rare diplomatic opportunity.
“President al-Sharaa has indicated he does not hate Israel and wants peace along that border,” Barrack said. “I believe the same is possible with Lebanon. An agreement with Israel is necessary.”
The envoy called the aftermath of the Iran–Israel war a chance to reset regional dynamics.
“What just happened between Israel and Iran is a moment for all of us to say, ‘Pause! Let’s build a new path,’” he said, adding that Türkiye plays a key role in shaping this new regional order.
Barrack also addressed ongoing tensions between Turkey and the United States, particularly over Ankara’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program and the U.S. sanctions imposed on Turkey. He expressed optimism about resolving these disputes.
“I’m confident we will have an opportunity to find a solution by the end of the year,” he said, signaling hope for a thaw in bilateral defense and economic relations.
The remarks reflect growing momentum for both regional reconciliation and diplomatic resets, as the fallout from the Iran–Israel conflict prompts a reevaluation of alliances and priorities in the Middle East.
Lebanon and Syria will in the coming months begin revising decades-old trade agreements to revive their economic relationship following the ouster of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in 2024, Lebanon's economy minister told Reuters on Thursday.
High in the hills above Beirut, where mist settles over crumbling villas and the past hangs heavier than the mountain air, stands a building that time has been unusually gentle with, even as neglect has not.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told parliament Thursday that the "ill-fated" framework agreement signed on June 26 between Lebanon and Israel was "doomed to fail," insisting "the Zionists will not be able to impose its implementation" and that "our people will thwart its effects on the ground."
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