Iran FM says ending war including in Lebanon 'most important issue' in US deal

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasized that the cessation of war on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, is the paramount objective of the recently announced US-Iran peace deal. During a briefing with foreign diplomats, Araghchi highlighted the memorandum of understanding's core aim: an immediate and permanent end to the conflict.

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The important point I want to emphasize here is that in our view, there are two parties to this memorandum -- one side is America and Israel, and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah.

Araghchi defined the parties to the memorandum as the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other. He stressed that ending the war in Lebanon is an "inseparable part" of the overall cessation of hostilities. This agreement follows a conflict that erupted on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, drawing in Hezbollah in early March after the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

The Iranian minister also stipulated that the war's end would be incomplete without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied during the conflict. He warned that any future Israeli military action against Lebanon or continued occupation of Lebanese territories would be considered a violation of the memorandum.

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This is perhaps the most important issue in the memorandum -- the declaration of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

This stance contrasts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza as long as necessary. The deal, slated for signing soon in Switzerland, will be attended by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Following the signing, negotiations are set to begin on a final agreement concerning Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.

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Any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on and the continued occupation of Lebanese territories from now on will be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding in our view.