Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a briefing to diplomats in Tehran, stressed that when it comes to negotiations, Washington and Tel Aviv are the one and the same, reported IRNA this morning. Iran considered ending the war in Lebanon a prerequisite for ending the war with Iran from day one, similar to a ceasefire that was declared on all fronts, with an emphasis on Lebanon, he explained, adding that the two parties of the Memorandum of Understanding are the United States and the Israeli regime on one side and Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement on the other.
Araghchi said that the objective of the deal will not be realized unless the war ends in Lebanon and Israeli forces withdraw from the territories they have occupied in this conflict, warning that any military attack and the continuation of the occupation from now on will be considered a violation of the memorandum.
Araghchi briefed both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanon’s parliament, on the MOU, reported Tasnim this morning. During separate phone calls, he outlined the contents of the MOU and explained clauses concerning Lebanon. Araqchi also highlighted Iran’s commitment to ending the war and acts of aggression against Lebanon. He stressed that the U.S. bears responsibility for ensuring the proper implementation of the provisions of the memorandum and emphasized the need for a complete cessation of the Israeli regime’s attacks on Lebanon.
For their part, the Lebanese officials welcomed the provisions of the recent memorandum of understanding and underscored that Lebanon’s stability and security are an inseparable component of any serious effort aimed at establishing broader regional stability.
A U.S. official told reporters in a background briefing by phone that the MOU is not conditioned on Israel withdrawing from Lebanon, but it still envisions a ceasefire that covers Lebanon, as well as Iran. “The deal is a ceasefire, but it will not be a one-way ceasefire. If Iran is not able to control Hezbollah, and if they attack Israeli positions or Israeli towns, Israel will have the right to defend themselves and respond,” the U.S. official claimed. In reality, it was Israel that violated the previous ceasefire nearly every day from November 2024 until March 2 of 2026, not Hezbollah, a condition that Hezbollah has since vowed it will not tolerate again.
