The tentative deal to end the war between the United States and Iran faces a significant hurdle: Iran's demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, a condition Israel has outright rejected. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tuesday that without Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the war cannot be considered fully ended. This condition threatens to unravel the agreement, which aims to establish a permanent ceasefire and stabilize the region.
Israel, while not a formal party to the U.S.-Iran deal, remains deeply entangled in the conflict. Israeli forces joined U.S. strikes against Iran in February and have since engaged in extensive military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, occupying significant portions of the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Monday that Israel would remain in Lebanon "as long as necessary," directly conflicting with Iran's demands.
"Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end," Araghchi said.
The U.S.-Iran negotiations, mediated in part by Pakistan, initially focused on ceasing military operations across the region. However, Iran's insistence on including Lebanon in the deal in the final stages of talks has introduced new complications. Regional officials familiar with the interim agreement confirmed that it calls for Israel to vacate nearly all occupied Lebanese territory, retaining only a few strategic border positions.
Disagreements over Lebanon's role in the deal have already strained relations between Israel and the U.S., with President Donald Trump expressing dissatisfaction with Israel's handling of the conflict. The ongoing Israeli occupation has displaced over 1 million Lebanese civilians and claimed nearly 4,000 lives, casting a shadow over the broader peace efforts. As negotiations continue, the durability of the U.S.-Iran deal hinges on resolving these contentious issues.