In this photo, U.S. Envoy for Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein, second left, sits next to U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea, first left, as they meet with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, third left, Lebanese president Michel Aoun, center, and Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, right, at the presidential palace, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. (Dalati Nohra via AP)

A Lebanese official source confirmed on Saturday that Lebanon and "Israel" are close to reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders.

In a statement to Sputnik, the source said, "We are very close to reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime border with Israel, and we have been informed that the answer the US mediator Amos Hochstein will carry from the Israeli side in response to the Lebanese proposal is positive, and he will soon return to Beirut."

The source added that "the border demarcation issue will be concluded in September."

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened yesterday that "If Lebanon does not obtain the rights demanded by the Lebanese state, we are heading toward an escalation whether or not the nuclear agreement is signed."

The Israeli Channel 14 website reported, earlier, that the ongoing indirect negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation regarding the demarcation of the maritime borders indicate the possibility of reaching a "permanent settlement," although "several parties in Israel believe that there will be painful concessions, particularly regarding details in the agreement."

The Israeli occupation had given in July the United States an updated proposal regarding "Tel Aviv's" maritime borders with Lebanon, Israeli newspaper Walla! said on Wednesday.

Moreover, Israeli media quoted this week a senior Israeli official in the gas sector as saying that the maritime border demarcation agreement that is taking shape with Lebanon is a complete surrender by "Israel", noting that "Israel's" submission is a great victory for Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.