Iran Says Ending Lebanon War Is Key Condition for Peace Deal With US and Israel

KUALA LUMPUR, June, 2026 — Iran has said that ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is one of the most important conditions in the peace deal announced with the United States and Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran views the memorandum of understanding as involving two sides: the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other. He said the immediate and permanent end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is central to the agreement.

Speaking during a briefing with foreign diplomats broadcast on Iranian state television, Araghchi said ending the war in Lebanon is “an inseparable part” of the complete end of the wider conflict. His remarks came a day after Tehran and Washington announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The conflict later expanded into Lebanon in early March after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion, pulling Lebanon deeper into the regional conflict.

Araghchi said the war would not be considered fully over without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied during the conflict. He added that any future Israeli military attack on Lebanon, or continued Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory, would be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding by Iran.

The statement places Lebanon at the centre of the wider peace process. While the agreement is mainly seen as a US-Iran arrangement, Tehran is making clear that the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah cannot be separated from the final settlement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for as long as necessary. This position could complicate the implementation of the peace deal, especially if Iran continues to view Israel’s military presence in Lebanon as a breach of the agreement.

Reuters reported that Hezbollah believes Iran will not finalise a nuclear agreement with the United States unless Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon. However, Hezbollah also clarified that the withdrawal would be a result of negotiations rather than a formal precondition.

The issue remains sensitive because Hezbollah has continued to frame Israeli presence in Lebanon as an occupation. Following the announcement of the deal, Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli forces attempting to advance in southern Lebanon.

The memorandum is expected to be signed on Friday in Switzerland. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghaliba will attend the signing with an Iranian delegation, while the US delegation is expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance.

However, some details remain unclear. Takht-Ravanchi said it has not yet been confirmed how the signing will take place, including whether it will be done electronically. Araghchi said the signing will happen soon and that a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States is likely to begin on Friday at a location yet to be confirmed.

After the signing, both countries are expected to begin talks on a final agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions. Araghchi said decisions on nuclear issues and sanctions relief will be made in the final agreement.

The US-Iran peace framework comes after months of regional escalation that affected multiple fronts, including Iran, Israel, Lebanon and Gulf shipping routes. Reuters reported that the preliminary agreement is designed to extend a ceasefire period and create space for negotiations toward a permanent truce.

Lebanon has suffered severe human and economic losses during the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Reuters reported that between March 2 and June 14, at least 3,783 people were killed and 11,699 injured in Lebanon, while more than 1.2 million people were displaced.

The destruction has also damaged Lebanon’s fragile economy. Reuters reported that more than 68,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed, while the country’s finance minister projected a 7% economic contraction in 2026 due to the impact of the war.

Because of that, the Lebanon issue is not only a military matter but also a humanitarian and economic crisis. Any final peace agreement that fails to address Israeli military operations or Hezbollah’s role risks leaving one of the most dangerous fronts unresolved.

For Iran, including Lebanon in the peace process strengthens its position as a regional actor and protector of its allies. For the United States, however, the challenge is more complicated because Israel was not directly involved in the US-Iran negotiations and has continued to insist on its own security priorities.

The biggest question now is whether Washington can convince Israel to limit or end military operations in Lebanon while negotiating a broader settlement with Iran. Without that, Tehran may accuse the US of failing to guarantee the terms of the memorandum.

The situation also presents a challenge for Hezbollah. If Iran moves forward with nuclear talks and sanctions negotiations, Hezbollah may come under pressure to reduce military activity while still demanding Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Iran’s message is clear: the peace deal cannot be separated from the war in Lebanon. Tehran says a full end to the conflict must include all fronts, Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory and a halt to further Israeli attacks.

The next key moment will be the expected signing in Switzerland, followed by nuclear and sanctions talks between Iran and the United States. Until then, the Lebanon front remains one of the most important tests of whether the peace deal can move from a temporary understanding to a lasting regional settlement.