US Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly has reportedly asked House Speaker Nabih Berri "why Lebanon would not strike deals with companies to start oil exploration in its territorial waters as "Israel" did pending a solution to the conflict on the Exclusive Economic Zone."

"As-Safir" Lebanese newspaper quoted Berri as answering Connelly that the maritime border line between Lebanon and "Israel" should be drawn. "If someone is seeking or working to reach a peace agreement between Lebanon and "Israel" to settle the oil issue, then this didn't and won't happen," he said.

The ambassador stressed that the crisis should be solved through the U.N. However, Berri replied that the solution to the new Lebanese-"Israeli" maritime conflict comes through a series of talks between officers from Lebanon and "Israel" under the auspices of the U.N. to demarcate the maritime border.

"When Berri asked Connelly about reports that U.S. envoy Frederic Hof was planning to visit Beirut to discuss about the conflict, Connelly said she had no information about the timing of the trip," "an-Nahar" Lebanese newspaper clarified.