President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 14-day truce was only a few hours old when Israel launched massive air raids against dozens of targets in Lebanon. In response, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was off-limits once again, demanding Washington live up to its commitments. Will these developments – and disagreements as to whether the truce applies to Lebanon – derail U.S.- Iranian peace talks in Islamabad and reignite the war? In this week’s edition of the MBN Iran Briefing podcast, MBN correspondents Joelle El Hajj Moussa in Beirut and Yehia Qasim in Jerusalem join MBN Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi and Iran Editor Andres Ilves to talk about Lebanon, Israel, and the ceasefire in the war with Iran. Tune in to find out.
Other stories we’ve teed up for you this week: What are the sticking points in the peace talks? How and why did China coax Iran to accept the ceasefire deal? Will Iran be allowed to levy fees on vessels crossing Hormuz – a move that violates international maritime laws? And what is Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) secretly up to in Europe?
Lastly, some internal news: MBN journalists Randa Jebai, Sam KC, and Ala’a Suleiman are finalists for the International Webby Awards. Check out their report, Lebanon’s First Anti-Slavery Case, which uncovered how the country’s Kafala system enables exploitation by forcing migrant workers into years of abuse without legal protection. Please vote here under Belonging & Inclusion by April 16th.
The Friday Briefing is also published in Arabic. If you were forwarded this newsletter, subscribe here. We’d love to hear from you at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
MBN Iran Briefing Podcast
Expert conversations unpacking the latest developments in Iran and how they are reshaping security, energy markets, and geopolitics across the Middle East.
This Week On MBN
Fault Lines in the Islamabad Talks
The ceasefire is already fraying, with tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Meanwhile, a fundamental dispute over whether Lebanon is included threatens to derail negotiations in Islamabad before they even begin. As MBN’s Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly notes, the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei from public view raises serious doubts about who can enforce the deal, especially as the IRGC continues to run the war, yet has no representation at the negotiating table.
Read the article here
China Steps In to Seal Ceasefire Agreement
MBN’s China Tracker editor Jim Snyder reports that Beijing moved swiftly behind the scenes to help contain the Iran – Israel – U.S. conflict, positioning itself as a global mediator. Driven by heavy dependence on Middle Eastern energy, Beijing sought to prevent escalation that could disrupt oil flows and supply chains. Leveraging its economic ties with Tehran, China appears to have pressured Iran toward accepting a ceasefire.
Read the article here
Hormuz Toll Plan Sparks Alarm
Iran’s reported bid to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz marks a significant challenge to established maritime norms. MBN’s Houda Elboukili explains that if Iran were to formalize such a move, it could set a far-reaching precedent for other chokepoint states—from Turkey to Indonesia—to monetize international straits, effectively disrupting global shipping norms and raising costs across supply chains.
Watch the video here
Hormuz Crisis Threatens U.S. Drug Supply
A quiet but escalating crisis is unfolding in the United States, as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten the supply of generic drugs that make up half of the U.S. market. In her reporting, Randa Jebai highlights how these medications depend on petroleum-based substances that are ingredients in certain medications and are sourced from the Gulf. Experts warn that manufacturers have only 30 to 60 days of flexibility before supply disruptions begin to hit production lines.
Watch the video here
Iran’s “Hidden Nuclear Path”
Henry Sokolski, a former Pentagon official on nuclear nonproliferation policy, warns that the global focus on Iran’s enriched uranium may be overlooking a more immediate risk. At the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, over 200 tons of spent fuel already contain plutonium with the potential to build up to 200 nuclear weapons. In an interview with MBN’s Editor-in-Chief Leila Bazzi, Sokolski highlights the overlooked “plutonium path” hiding in plain sight.
Watch the full interview here
Inside Iran’s Covert War in Europe
Iranian opposition figures say the IRGC has intensified covert operations in Europe since the start of the war with the United States and Israel. These actions include smuggling drones in parts, using diplomatic cover, and relying on international criminal networks. According to reporting by Dalshad Hussein, these activities also involve sleeper cells, secret workshops, and recruitment networks used for espionage, sabotage, and potential assassinations.
Read the article here
Shia Voices Break Silence Against Hezbollah
Two Shia activists are mounting a rare internal challenge to Hezbollah’s dominance within Lebanon’s Shia community. Hezbollah claims the entire Shiite community supports its policies, which isn’t necessarily the case. Maryam Kasrawan and Lynn Harfoush accuse Hezbollah of serving Tehran’s agenda while projecting a false narrative of victory. As Mirna Gharzouzi reports, both women are calling for Shiite critics of Hezbollah to speak up and shatter the image of a unified support base.
Watch the video here
Closer
“The oil-for-security deal is dead. That is not an alliance. That is a rental agreement. And the rent is now under review.”
–Former Kuwaiti Official to MBN
