Lead
Iran has signaled readiness to continue diplomatic engagement with the United States, but insists Washington must ensure Israel complies with the terms of the agreement to end the war. The comments come amid reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, even as deadly Israeli attacks have continued.
Coverage Comparison
Al Jazeera reported that Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Tehran wants to continue the diplomatic process with Washington if the US is serious about respecting their agreement and ensures Israel abides by the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MoU). "We are ready to move forward step by step, if the other party demonstrates the same seriousness," he said.
Reports from the Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, highlighted Hezbollah's confidence in Iran's support, with a leading Hezbollah politician saying the group is confident that Iran will insist on Lebanon being included in any deal with the United States. The same reports indicated that a memorandum between the US and Iran to halt the war in the Gulf could be signed as soon as Sunday, according to a Western source.
Al Jazeera also noted that talks between the US and Iran scheduled for Switzerland on Friday were called off, and US Vice President JD Vance cancelled his planned trip there. Earlier, officials including mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the two sides would meet in Burgenstock to begin negotiations on a host of issues as outlined in the MoU signed this week.
Key Claims
- Iran's readiness for diplomacy: Iran's deputy foreign minister says Tehran is "ready to move forward" on diplomacy with Washington, but the US must ensure Israel abides by the terms of the deal to end the war.
- Ceasefire agreement: A US official told Reuters that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, but deadly Israeli attacks have continued.
- Hezbollah's expectations: Hezbollah has received assurances from Iran that it will demand a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon in its next phase of talks with the United States, with a withdrawal to be the result of, and not a precondition for, continuing talks between Tehran and Washington.
- Iran's position on Lebanon: Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted on an end to fighting in Lebanon as part of any wider agreement. Article 1 of the MoU explicitly states that ending the war in Lebanon is an integral part of the broader ceasefire arrangement across all fronts.
- Potential memorandum: A Western source said a memorandum between the US and Iran to halt the war in the Gulf could be signed as soon as Sunday.
Perspectives
Iran: Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, expressed readiness to continue diplomacy with Washington, but stressed that the US must ensure Israel stops its attacks on Lebanon. He said Iran was seeking "peace on all fronts, including Gaza" and warned that continued Israeli "war-making" would have "serious and immediate consequences."
Hezbollah: Hezbollah's media relations office and its politicians expressed confidence in Iran's support, expecting Iran to insist on Lebanon's inclusion in any agreement with the United States. Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah politician, said the group has "complete confidence" that Iran will insist on any agreement including the file of Lebanon. Hezbollah also said there would be "no nuclear deal between Iran and the United States unless the Israelis withdraw" from Lebanon.
United States: A US official confirmed to Reuters that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, though the US has not publicly commented on the reported memorandum with Iran. The US has been mediating talks between the Lebanese and Israeli governments.