Middle East War Day 93: Iran rejects Trump's new peace terms; oil prices rise

The US-Israel offensive against Iran has entered its 93rd day. Iran's chief negotiator warned that the US cannot be trusted, emphasizing that Tehran will not sign a peace agreement without guaranteed rights. With President Trump having previously sent a tougher proposal, the divide between the two sides remains deep. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated yesterday that if Iran fails to reach an agreement with the US, the US is prepared to resume attacks. According to Reuters, Hegseth said in Singapore, "If necessary, we have the capability to resume operations... and more than enough." A US official stated today that Secretary of State Marco Rubio held phone calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding diplomatic negotiations. The US proposed that Hezbollah stop all attacks on Israel in exchange for Israel not escalating military operations in Beirut. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced today that it had captured a strategic highland in southern Lebanon featuring a Crusader-era castle. This marks the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanon in over a quarter-century. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned today that the US cannot be trusted. In response to these developments, international oil prices rose, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) up 2.5% to $89.60 per barrel, and Brent crude up about 2.2% to $93.16. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that there is no justification for the massive escalation of conflict in southern Lebanon and called for a permanent end to hostilities.