The war in Iran and the broader Middle East is apparently over, at least according to US President Trump. A 14-point agreement between the US and Iran has been signed at Versailles Palace, where the ill-fated agreement ending World War I was signed, largely granting Iran all it had asked for. The world economy may eventually return to some semblance of normality as the Strait of Hormuz reopens, assuming it really does, but the region as a whole is far from at peace, and somewhat far from comprehending a deal that stabilises remarkably little. This is especially true of Lebanon: torn apart by its own sectarian violence and economic deterioration, it has become the core issue of dispute. For Iran, Hezbollah must remain intact and in control, with Iranian oversight of the whole country; for Israel, Hezbollah must be disarmed and removed from Lebanon’s southern border.
Neither Israel nor Lebanon is a party to the newly signed 14-point agreement, though both have now embarked on talks sponsored by the US. That may not matter, as in the complex web of Lebanese politics, Hezbollah is more powerful than the government. However, it has been weakened dramatically by Israel, which is also pushing back on it while licking its wounds from what seems like a humiliating defeat.
Suzan Haidamous, Beirut-based correspondent for the Washington Post, is the perfect person to join ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-El and make some sense of Lebanon’s predicaments. In a great and wise conversation, she brings her lived experience of Lebanon, coupled with great insight and compassion.
This episode was recorded on 15 June 2026.
Chapters:
- Understanding Lebanon and Syria today
- Reporting from the ground: experiences in Syria
- Hezbollah’s role and influence in Lebanon
- The future of Lebanon and regional dynamics with Iran
- Is there still hope for peace in the Middle East?
Mentions
- 2024 beeper attack on Hezbollah
- 2024 walkie talkie attack on Hezbollah
- Susannah George – Washington post page
- Liz Sly – Washington post page
- UN Security Council resolution 1701
- UN News – Explainer: What is Security Council resolution 1701?
- Women Leaders – As missiles fly
- Suzan Haidamous article “An airstrike trapped a journalist”
Follow
- Suzan Haidamous, Washington Post profile, LinkedIn profile
- Ilana Bet-El
- Instagram @women_leaders_podcast
- Listen to this episode on our YouTube channel
Credits
- Production Florence Ferrando
- Music: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT
The European Leadership Network itself as an institution holds no formal policy positions. The opinions articulated above represent the views of the authors rather than the European Leadership Network or its members. The ELN aims to encourage debates that will help develop Europe’s capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our time, to further its charitable purposes.
Image credit: Florence Ferrando
