Iran says Israel must pull troops out of Lebanon under deal with U.S.

Iran's foreign minister declared Tuesday that any Israeli forces remaining in southern Lebanon, or any strikes on the country, would constitute a violation of a U.S.-Iran deal. This statement comes as Israeli officials said Monday that troops would stay in Lebanon, asserting that "Trump's agreement does not bind us." A signing ceremony is expected Friday in Switzerland to formalize the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. This agreement is anticipated to initiate a second phase of direct talks concerning Iran's nuclear program and other contentious issues.

President Trump announced that ships were already departing the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, and that the vital waterway would fully reopen on Friday. However, shipping firms have expressed reluctance to resume normal transits through the strait, citing a lack of detailed information about the deal.

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the two parties to this memorandum of understanding are the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi elaborated on the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. to foreign diplomats in Tehran. He highlighted a previously unmentioned "mechanism" within the terms that he claimed would be triggered if Israel "violates the agreement." While the agreement is between Iran and the U.S., Iran's foreign minister stated that Tehran views "the two parties to this memorandum of understanding are the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other."

According to Iran's official state news agency, Takht-Ravanchi explained that a clause in the memorandum of understanding on the termination of war and military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, explicitly states that if the "Zionist regime" violates the agreement, then the mechanism will be activated. The U.S. and Iranian governments have not yet released the text of the agreement, which Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to sign with Iranian officials on Friday.

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When we reached a ceasefire, we declared it across all fronts, with particular emphasis on Lebanon … Any continued occupation of Lebanese territory will be regarded by us as a violation of the memorandum of understanding.