Iran has asserted that any final agreement with the United States must involve a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Israel has consistently refused to pull back its troops, citing threats posed by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia, to communities in northern Israel, according to reports from CNN and Iran International.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated on Sunday, “The withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese areas is essential to achieve a final and sustainable agreement for establishing regional stability.” This statement was reported by the official news agency IRNA.
Baghaei emphasized that Tehran also demands full implementation of the first article of the memorandum of understanding, which calls for an “immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” He noted that the article specifies that the “final agreement will confirm the definitive cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” although it does not explicitly demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
On the same day, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, remarked, “Our goal is to end the war in Lebanon, allow displaced persons to return to their homes, end the occupation, and ensure the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from Lebanese territory.” Ghalibaf conveyed this message to Nabih Berri, the president of the Lebanese parliament and the country’s highest Shiite official.
Agreement Between Israel and Lebanon
Israel and Lebanon have repeatedly agreed to ceasefire arrangements mediated by the US, the most recent of which was announced on Friday. However, previous agreements have had limited overall impact. Israel has maintained that it will not withdraw from the territory it occupied, while Hezbollah has rejected calls for disarmament as long as Israeli troops remain in position, according to Reuters.
On Friday, the Israeli and Lebanese governments reached an agreement on a process for the Lebanese army to gradually regain control over areas in southern Lebanon. To date, the Lebanese army has not been able to force Hezbollah to disarm or withdraw its fighters from southern Lebanon.
