Iran says the deal to end the war with the US requires Israel to
withdraw from Lebanon
[June 16, 2026]
By JON GAMBRELL, SAM METZ and MUNIR AHMED
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s top diplomat said Tuesday that
the deal ending the war with the United States would also require Israel
to withdraw from Lebanon. But with Israel insisting it will keep forces
in Lebanon, questions are growing about the still-unpublished agreement
and whether disagreement over its terms could prolong the conflict.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s continued occupation of
southern Lebanon would violate the memorandum of understanding reached
between the United States and Iran.
“The end of the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete
end of the war,” Araghchi said in statements made to foreign diplomats
in Tehran that were aired on Iranian state TV. “Without the withdrawal
of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war,
the war has not fully come to an end.”
Araghchi said further Israeli attacks on Lebanon “will be considered by
us a violation of the memorandum of understanding.”
The United States has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final
agreement. But Araghchi's description clashes with statements made by
Israeli officials about the deal to end the war that started with joint
U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28.
Israel is not party to the agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
on Monday described it as President Donald Trump's decision, noting
Israel had its own priorities and would remain in a buffer zone in
Lebanon “as long as necessary.”
The ambiguity mirrored developments during past negotiations, including
the temporary ceasefire brokered in April. That agreement did not pave
the way to broader peace or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after
the United States and Iran announced differing frameworks.
Unresolved issues cast doubt on agreement's long-term prospects
The discrepancy underscored how much of the agreement remains apparently
unresolved ahead of a planned ceremonial signing Friday in Geneva.
The agreement is meant to provide a meaningful truce in a monthslong war
that has killed thousands across the Middle East, including the top
leaders of Iran’s theocracy, and raised the prices of fuel, food and
other basic goods far beyond the region.
The unpublished agreement provides for the “immediate” opening of the
Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the blockade, according to a senior U.S.
official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss
outlines of the agreement on Monday.
Brokered mainly by Pakistan, it starts with the simultaneous lifting of
Iran’s closure of the strait and the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports,
according to Pakistani officials. The United States and Iran will then
begin 60 days of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and the
potential lifting of sanctions, Pakistani officials who helped broker
the interim deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity about the
unpublished text.
It also includes the possibility of releasing Iran’s frozen funds,
sanctions relief and a $300 billion fund to help rebuild Iran if Tehran
meets certain benchmarks, senior U.S. officials told reporters Monday.
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A woman waves an Iranian flag during a pro-government campaign as a
portrait of the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was
killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, is displayed at
right, in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid
Salemi)
Araghchi’s comments Tuesday appear to match the understanding of two
regional officials with direct knowledge of the interim deal. The
officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations, said it would
require Israel to leave nearly all the territory it occupies in
Lebanon, minus a few hilltop points along the border seized earlier.
The officials say Iran insisted the accord include Lebanon in the
last days of the negotiations. Regarding the timeline, the officials
said the release of frozen Iranian assets are tied to Tehran
implementing the deal. Gulf Arab states also have pledged to inject
billions of dollars in Iran’s economy, they added.
Beyond Lebanon, there’s one more point of possible contention on
Iran’s nuclear program. The interim deal begins a 60-day clock for
talks over Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Iran has agreed to discuss ways to possibly “dilute or remove” its
stockpile, the officials said. However, it remains unclear whether
Tehran would agree to that, particularly with hard-liners opposing
to giving it up.
U.S. officials have not yet explained how they see the agreement
addressing Iran’s nuclear program, including who will be in charge
of verifying that Iran is in compliance and who will destroy or
remove highly enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear
sites that were badly damaged by U.S. strikes last summer.
Despite anger, US allies push to make deal work at G7 summit
Meanwhile, world leaders gathered in France for the first full day
of the Group of Seven summit of major industrialized nations, where
Iran was high on the agenda. Scheduled discussions include a work
session focused on “ending crises and ensuring stability in the
Middle East.” Leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates
are to join the talks.
Trump has clashed with European leaders over not consulting them
before going to war in Iran. Even so, leaders are expected to strike
a measured tone as they seek ways to ease the economic fallout from
rising oil prices caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ahead of their meeting, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and
the United Kingdom issued a joint statement congratulating the
United States, the Iranian government and the mediators on what they
called a “diplomatic breakthrough.” Canada also signed the
statement. The leaders said it was vital for detailed negotiations
to take place and for the deal to be quickly implemented so the
Strait of Hormuz can be reopened to tanker traffic.
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