Tehran to view any Israeli attack on Lebanon as violation of Iran-US memorandum — MFA

Lead

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that any Israeli military attack on Lebanon or continued presence on Lebanese territory would constitute a violation of the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States. Speaking at a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi said, "Any military attack on Lebanon by the Zionist regime and its continued occupation of Lebanese territories will, in our view, constitute a violation of the memorandum of understanding." The memorandum, expected to be signed in Geneva on June 19, calls for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, according to officials from the US, Iran, and mediator Pakistan.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the US-Iran memorandum and its implications for Lebanon has been consistent across multiple outlets, though each has emphasized different aspects. Al Jazeera framed the story around the pressure the agreement places on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that the memorandum includes Israel's war on Lebanon. Deutsche Welle focused on Iran's demands for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, with its lead emphasizing these demands in connection with the interim US-Iran deal. The Jerusalem Post, in two separate articles, highlighted both Araghchi's warning to Israel and Israel's reaction to the agreement, including Netanyahu's comments. TASS — English provided the most extensive coverage, including statements from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahraini.

Key Claims

The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 that includes an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. According to a reported draft of the 14-point deal shared by Al Arabiya and cited by the Jerusalem Post, the first point calls for "an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon." The draft also focuses on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the release of sanctioned funds, but does not specify the fate of Iran's nuclear materials.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued presence on Lebanese territory would be a violation of the memorandum. He said, "In our view, the two parties to this memorandum are the US and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other." This warning was reported by both Deutsche Welle and the Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intends to remain in Lebanon as long as necessary. This statement was reported by TASS — English, citing his comments on Monday, June 22. The Jerusalem Post also noted Netanyahu's comments on the agreement.

The US-Iran agreement does not include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon. According to a report by Israel's N12 television channel, cited by TASS — English, a high-ranking US source said, "The withdrawal of troops from Lebanon is not a part of the agreement. If [Hezbollah] attacks, Israel has the right to self-defense and retaliatory strikes."

Iran demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon as part of the US peace deal. This claim was made by Iranian officials, including Araghchi and Ali Bahraini, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva. Bahraini stated, "There should be no further attacks against Lebanon, and Israeli troops are required to withdraw from Lebanese soil." Deutsche Welle also reported that Iran ties the US peace deal to Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. However, this position appears to contradict the reported contents of the memorandum, which does not include such a provision.

US intelligence believes that Israel is not planning to stop its attacks on Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire and the US-Iranian memorandum. This assessment, reported by The New York Times and cited by TASS — English, indicates that Israel wants to continue military operations in Lebanon, casting uncertainty over the negotiations. The report also notes that Netanyahu is under intense domestic political pressure to continue operations against Hezbollah.

Perspectives

Iran: Iran views any Israeli attack on Lebanon or continued presence there as a violation of the memorandum of understanding. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the agreement includes an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, reiterated calls for Israel to cease attacks and withdraw from Lebanese soil, expressing optimism about the progress of negotiations.

Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Israel will remain in Lebanon as long as necessary, signaling intent to continue military operations despite the agreement. Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticized the inclusion of Lebanon in the US-Iran negotiations, calling it "a big mistake" and expressing concern that involving Iran in the Lebanese-Israeli settlement process is problematic. Herzog noted that Israel conveyed its concerns to the US side.

United States: The US, as a party to the memorandum, views the agreement as a general document, according to Vice President JD Vance, who described it as "very general" and focused on ending hostilities. A senior US official said the withdrawal of troops from Lebanon is not part of the agreement, and Israel retains the right to self-defense and retaliatory strikes if attacked.