Negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, mediated by the US, are facing increasing stagnation despite completing a seventh round of talks. According to Joseph Bahout, Director of the Issam Fares Institute, obstacles now extend beyond technical disagreements over the initial framework agreement. Current impediments include evolving military realities, internal political challenges within both countries, and a decline in American involvement. Furthermore, progress is heavily reliant on broader regional developments, specifically the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US, as well as Israel’s internal political landscape. Bahout suggests the talks are part of a larger strategic context where a resolution remains contingent on factors outside direct Lebanese-Israeli control. The symbolic nature of continued negotiations contrasts sharply with the lack of tangible progress toward a final agreement.