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Vice President JD Vance has indicated that Israel is willing to pull back on some of its military strikes in Lebanon during ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, Iran has threatened to terminate the US-Israel ceasefire agreement after Israel continued launching strikes in Lebanon despite the truce being announced, arguing that the attacks violate the spirit of ongoing negotiations. Israel has justified its actions by targeting Hezbollah, which entered the conflict early by launching attacks in support of Iran, prompting Israel to respond with sustained airstrikes and expanded ground operations deep into southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have since pushed several miles into Lebanese territory as part of efforts to weaken Hezbollah’s infrastructure and presence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Lebanon, and under that position, Israel has intensified its military campaign there. In contrast, Iran says they’re violating the deal and has threatened to also launch attacks on Israel.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Vice President JD Vance said there is a “legitimate misunderstanding” between the United States and Iran over whether the ceasefire applies to Lebanon, stressing that “the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn’t.” He clarified the US position, stating, “We never made that promise… what we said is that the ceasefire will be focused on Iran and America’s allies both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.” At the same time, Vance noted that Israel has signaled some willingness to ease its actions, saying the Israelis “have actually offered to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful.”

Despite that, Israeli operations in Lebanon have intensified, with massive coordinated airstrikes hitting Beirut and other areas, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure while also causing significant civilian harm. Reports indicate that more than 100 targets were struck within minutes, with hundreds killed and many more wounded, making it one of the deadliest days in the conflict. The scale of destruction in densely populated urban areas has led to a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, overwhelmed hospitals, and emergency calls for medical assistance and blood donations.

The humanitarian toll has drawn sharp international criticism, as multiple countries and organizations warn that continued strikes risk undermining fragile diplomacy. Nations including France, Egypt, Qatar, Spain, and others have condemned Israel’s actions as escalatory and, in some cases, violations of international law. The United Nations has also denounced the strikes, warning that such actions could derail any chance of a lasting peace.

Vance, while defending the US interpretation of the ceasefire, made clear that if Iran chooses to walk away from negotiations over the Lebanon issue, “that would be dumb but that’s their choice.”