Tehran says agreement with US requires Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon

Iran’s foreign minister claims that the agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. 

In a meeting with foreign emissaries in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the U.S. requires the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and that any “future military attack” by Israel would be a violation of the MOU. 

“The end of the war also includes the end of the occupation,” Araghchi told the foreign emissaries, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the end of the war is not complete. Any future military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon or continuation of the occupation of Lebanese territories will, in our view, be considered a violation of the Memorandum of Understanding.” 

According to Araghchi, the MOU officially begins on Friday, while reaffirming that it includes the Israeli conflict against Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

“Nevertheless, the announcement of the end of the war was made from Monday morning, and this is perhaps the most important element in the Memorandum of Understanding: the declaration of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” he stated. 

The Iranian leader noted that the Islamic Republic views Iran and Hezbollah as “interconnected and interdependent.” 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has considered the end of the war in Lebanon as one of the requirements for ending the war with Iran,” Araghchi added. “When we reached a ceasefire, we declared a ceasefire on all fronts, with special emphasis on Lebanon. Now that we have reached the end of the war, the war in Lebanon will also end.” 

On Wednesday morning, the Iranian Top Joint Military Command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central ‌HQ, warned, "If Israel does not cease its attacks in southern Lebanon, it should expect a harsh response from the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed Tehran's position that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) requires a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon during a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, according to Iranian media. Ghalibaf said the agreement also requires that displaced Lebanese residents be allowed to return to their homes. A Hezbollah official echoed that position, saying Iran would not sign a final agreement with the United States unless Israel withdraws from Lebanon.

“We believe there will be no nuclear ‌deal between Iran and the United States if Israel does not withdraw,” a Hezbollah official told Reuters on Tuesday. 

However, a U.S. official with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press that the agreement does not call for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed that position in a post on his 𝕏 account. 

“Fortunately Secretary (Marco) Rubio made clear that Iran & Hezbollah aren’t linked in a deal,” Huckabee wrote. “Israel doesn’t need Iran's permission to defend itself. The tether of terror must end.” 

Fortunately @SecRubio made clear that Iran & Hezbollah aren’t linked in a deal. @Israel doesn’t need Iran permission to defend itself. The tether of terror must end. https://t.co/TXfZtiYswD

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 16, 2026

However, a report from Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, which appears to show the text of the 14-point agreement, explicitly mentions Lebanon as part of the agreement. 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, together with their allies in the current war, declare upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and undertake that from now on they will not launch any hostile action against each other, and will refrain from the threat or use of force against each other,” the first point reads. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is not bound by any clause in the agreement concerning Lebanon. He also affirmed on Monday that Israel “will remain in the security zones for as long as it is required to defend our country.” 

At the same time, the IDF conducted a series of strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, after Hezbollah fired rockets toward IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon. 

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa and a drone strike in the coastal town of Ansariyeh. 

Meanwhile, Channel 12 News reported significant progress in U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon, with an agreement reportedly nearing completion that would see the Lebanese Armed Forces deploy to parts of southern Lebanon and displaced residents begin returning home.

Israel has described the talks as aimed at a peace agreement, while Lebanese officials say they are focused on a permanent ceasefire and de-escalation. Any deal is further complicated by Hezbollah's insistence that it will neither recognize nor abide by an agreement reached through the negotiations.