In a move that shakes the international stage, President Donald Trump announced this Thursday (16) a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The truce, which includes Hezbollah, went into effect at 5:00 PM (Brasília time) and is viewed by Washington as a “gesture of good faith” to pave the way toward a lasting peace in the region.
The terms released by the State Department are stringent: while Israel commits to halting offensive operations, it reserves the right to “self-defense” against imminent threats and will not withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory. On the other side, the Lebanese government assumes responsibility for preventing attacks by non-state armed groups against Israeli targets, reaffirming its national sovereignty with international support.
Tehran’s “Nuclear Dust”
Parallel to the conflict in Lebanon, Trump displayed unusual optimism regarding Iran. According to the mogul, Tehran is “willing to do things today that they weren’t willing to do two months ago.” The most impactful statement was that the Iranian government had allegedly agreed to hand over what the president called “nuclear dust”—a reference to enriched uranium stored in underground facilities that were targets of American B-2 bombers.
“It will be a deal without nuclear weapons,” Trump guaranteed, signaling that decisive face-to-face negotiations are expected to take place as early as this weekend. For the White House, Iran is cornered and seeking a diplomatic exit to avoid further military strikes and sanctions.
Vigilance and Sovereignty
The memorandum of understanding emphasizes that Lebanon’s security forces will have exclusive responsibility for the country’s defense, invalidating any other group attempting to name itself as a guarantor of local sovereignty. Israel and Lebanon also formally requested that the U.S. facilitate direct negotiations to resolve historical disputes, such as the demarcation of the international land border.
Although the ceasefire is temporary (10 days), there is a provision for an extension if Lebanon effectively demonstrates its ability to control its territory. For the Diário Carioca, Trump’s announcement puts the world in a state of suspense: it remains to be seen if the truce will withstand field tensions and if Iran will truly surrender its atomic leverage in exchange for an as-yet uncertain stability.
