U.S.-Iran ceasefire tested by Strait of Hormuz tension and Israel’s war in Lebanon

[0:00] Welcome to the NewsHour. For the first time in more than five weeks, the U.S. did not launch [0:05] widespread attacks on Iran today, and Iran did not strike U.S. targets. Even as the ceasefire [0:11] between the two nations largely held, it's being tested by what appears to be Iran's ongoing [0:16] chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Israel's war in Lebanon. Nick Schifrin reports [0:22] on the many factors that could determine if the temporary truce can become a long-term peace. [0:27] Today, in two capitals, two declarations of victory. In Tehran, immediately after the [0:36] ceasefire, government supporters filled the streets, desecrating what the regime has for [0:43] decades called the big and little Satan. Meanwhile, at the White House... [0:47] This is a victory for the United States of America. [0:50] ...and the Pentagon... [0:52] Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, [0:58] a capital-V military victory. [1:02] NICK SCHIFRIN, The U.S. declared its own goals met. But this is what the vice president admitted [1:10] was a fragile truce. In the hours after the ceasefire, Iran attacked Israel, intercepted [1:15] by air defense. And Iran reported an attack on an oil refinery in the Strait of Hormuz. [1:23] And it's that energy chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas [1:27] usually flows that became one of the ceasefire deal's linchpins. Today, Iranian state media [1:32] announced it was closed because of ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon. [1:37] CAROLINE LEVITT, The U.S. Secretary of State, This is a case of what they're saying [1:39] publicly is different privately. We have seen an uptick of traffic in the Strait today. [1:43] NICK SCHIFRIN, The U.S. Secretary of State, But at the White House today, [1:45] spokesperson Caroline Levitt insisted the Strait was open. [1:48] CAROLINE LEVITT, The U.S. Secretary of State, I will reiterate the president's expectation [1:51] and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely. That is his [1:57] expectation. It has been relayed to him privately that that is what's taking place. And these reports [2:02] publicly are false. [2:04] NICK SCHIFRIN, The U.S. Secretary of State, In the Persian Gulf, Iran's Navy tells a different story, [2:10] broadcasting this audio message today. [2:20] And maritime intelligence organizations tell PBS NewsHour that Iran only allowed five ships to the [2:26] Strait today, the same number as the day before the cease-fire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas [2:31] Arachi warned, quote, the cease-fire terms are clear and explicit. The U.S. must choose cease-fire [2:38] or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both. The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball [2:44] is in the U.S. court. Israel today hit Lebanon with what it called the largest coordinated wave [2:51] of strikes since the war in Iran began, pounding Beirut, attacking more than 100 targets within 10 minutes. [3:00] NICK SCHIFRIN, And targeting Southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops recently invaded and pushed [3:05] out most of the population. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today, [3:09] this part of the war will not end. [3:12] I insisted that the temporary cease-fire with Iran would not include Hezbollah, [3:17] and we continue to strike it hard. [3:18] BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought [3:23] that the cease-fire included Lebanon, and it just didn't. [3:26] NICK SCHIFRIN, But Vice President Vance today, at the end of a trip to Budapest, [3:30] Hungary, said Israel never promised a cease-fire in Lebanon, but might be willing now. [3:34] BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, The Israelis, as I understand it, again, I'm supposed to get a fuller report [3:38] when I get on the plane, have actually offered to be, frankly, to check themselves a little bit [3:45] in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful. [3:49] NICK SCHIFRIN, The Israelis, as I understand it, again, I'm supposed to get a fuller report when I get on the plane, [3:53] have actually offered to be, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful. [3:57] BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, The Israelis, The Israel and the Israelis, is the president's office, [3:59] but if the Iranians don't do the exact same thing, they're going to find out that the [4:03] President of the United States is not one to mess around. He's impatient. He's impatient [4:09] to make progress. He has told us to negotiate in good faith. [4:12] NICK SCHIFRIN, Treasury, of New York Times for Law Fowler, [4:13] Last night, Iran's Supreme National Security Council released its negotiating demands, including [4:17] quote, the establishment of a secure transit protocol in the Strait of Hormuz in such a [4:22] manner as to guarantee Iran's dominion, withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East, and U.S.-Israeli [4:28] reparations. [4:29] The U.S. has long rejected those demands. [4:32] Iran is also demanding the lifting of all sanctions, which President Trump acknowledged [4:36] today was on the table. [4:38] But in turn, Iran has rejected the U.S.'s longstanding demands, including no domestic [4:43] uranium enrichment, end of support for proxies, and limits on missile inventory and range. [4:49] And today, the U.S. added a new demand and threat. [4:53] Iran must hand over its nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium, believed buried [4:57] under the rubble of last summer's U.S. strikes, or the U.S. will launch a raid to seize it. [5:02] They will either give it to us, which the president has laid out, they'll give it to us voluntarily, [5:07] we'll get it, we'll take it, we'll take it out. [5:09] But back in Tehran, there is cautious relief, and for some, a clear enemy. [5:14] Everyone likes peace and calm, but unfortunately someone is talking to us who is not trustworthy [5:20] at all. [5:21] Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night. [5:28] Even for President Trump, it has been a volatile 48 hours. [5:32] He whipsawed between threatening to destroy Iran's civilization unless there was a deal to [5:36] an 11th-hour deal, declaring the ceasefire and claiming almost all of our various points [5:41] of past contention have been agreed to. [5:44] For European allies confronting an unpredictable president, for the U.S.'s Gulf allies facing [5:50] persistent new Iranian threats, and for energy infrastructure that will take months or years [5:55] to rebuild, the war will have consequences long beyond any ceasefire. [6:00] Tonight, a U.S. official acknowledges to me that the Strait of Hormuz is basically a pressure [6:05] valve that Iran can turn on and off. [6:08] But the official argues the war has shifted Iran's demands, including its willingness to [6:12] accept this temporary ceasefire. [6:15] The challenge now is this weekend's negotiations, which Iran enters with a leverage over the strait, [6:20] Jeff, that it did not have before the war. [6:24] Support journalism you trust. [6:26] Support PBS News. [6:28] Donate now, or even better, start a monthly contribution today.