The US top general reports that tensions in the Middle East have slightly decreased due to new threats from Iran.

According to Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.'s comments to Reuters on Monday, concerns about a full-scale war between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran have decreased. However, Jerusalem and Tehran's statements suggest otherwise.

On Monday, Brown met with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv to discuss security concerns in Jerusalem, following the exchange of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah on Sunday, during which hundreds of rockets and drones were launched by the terrorist group at northern Israeli military positions.

After 100 warplanes flew over Israel to strike rocket launchers, Jerusalem also launched a series of strikes on Hezbollah strongholds.

Although a significant amount of fire was exchanged, only a small number of deaths were reported, with three Hezbollah militants and one Israeli soldier killed in the day's events, which ended by mid-morning Sunday.

Brown responded, "Yes, somewhat, the threat of a large-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has decreased."

Al Jazeera reported that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stated that the Sunday operation was carried out in retaliation for the death of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, which occurred in late July.

The terror group and Iran have vowed to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, despite Israel's denial of involvement in the attack.

"According to Brown, the Israeli adversaries had two acts of revenge planned, one of which had already occurred. The outcome of the second act is now uncertain."

Whether there will be a broader conflict or not depends on how Iran and Israel respond to each other, according to Brown.

Despite Brown's optimistic outlook on avoiding a broader conflict, Israel and Iran view the current tensions differently.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's chief of staff of the armed forces, stated that "revenge against the Israeli entity is inevitable" after the death of Haniyeh in response to the Sunday exchange of fire.

"According to a report by Al Mayadeen English, the individual confirmed that what was observed yesterday was only a portion of the revenge that will be taken. Iran will determine the manner and timing of their retaliation and will not allow themselves to be manipulated by the media provocations initiated by their enemies."

On Monday, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Iran's aggression has reached an unprecedented level and Israel and the U.S. must strengthen their joint defense measures.

Tehran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities poses a threat, and Jerusalem and Washington must work together to prevent its military from acquiring nuclear weapons, as Gallant further emphasized.

On Tuesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, stated that there were no obstacles to communicating with the "enemy." Some news outlets took this as a possible indication that Tehran may resume nuclear negotiations with the West.

"Khamenei stated that we do not need to rely on the enemy's approval for our plans and that it is not contradictory to engage with them in some places, according to The Associated Press."

The rhetoric mirrored remarks made prior to the 2015 agreement between Iran, the U.S., and other Western countries, as stated in an AP report.

But Khamenei also warned that "the enemy" could not be trusted.

The talks with Iran about its nuclear development fell apart after the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, a move that Tehran has since declared invalid.

In June, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran does not have nuclear weapon capabilities, despite having enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade standards.

Michael Ratney, the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, stated on Monday that while a new deal with Iran is unlikely, a "historic" agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia may be imminent.

Although we have made significant progress on crucial aspects of the agreement, it is imperative that we complete the remaining details together to achieve a groundbreaking accord between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, as stated by the official to Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, according to a translation reported by Al Arabiya English.

Ratney stated that the agreement would address multiple concerns, including strengthening the strategic alliance between Washington and Riyadh, improving military cooperation, and bolstering economic ties.

The Abraham Accords, initiated by the Trump administration, aimed to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and this effort has been ongoing throughout the Middle East.

The belief that strengthening Israel's relationships in the Middle East would enhance its security against terrorist groups and the Iranian regime, which frequently clashes with Sunni nations, has been held by Washington under both the Trump and Biden administrations.

Ratney stated that we are in a complex region and the agreement is also complex, but we will complete it as quickly as possible.

The Biden administration and Riyadh are in favor of a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to Palestinian statehood.

Ratney stated that the establishment of a Palestinian state must be achieved through political negotiations between the parties, rather than any other approach.

He emphasized the need to prioritize stopping the violence in Gaza, alleviating the suffering of its people, advancing towards a cease-fire, releasing Israeli hostages, and resolving the conflict to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid.