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AMMAN — Iran on Tuesday said that ending the war in Lebanon is a central part of the memorandum of understanding reached with the United States, as both sides prepare to enter a new phase of negotiations aimed at securing a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the declaration of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, was “the most important issue” in the memorandum announced a day earlier.
“Ending the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war,” Araghchi said during a briefing with foreign diplomats broadcast on state television.
He added that any future Israeli military action in Lebanon, as well as the continued presence of Israeli forces in territories occupied during the conflict, would be viewed by Tehran as a violation of the agreement.
The remarks came after Tehran and Washington announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war that expanded across multiple fronts following US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
Araghchi said that a new round of negotiations between Iran and the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme would likely begin on Friday, alongside discussions on sanctions relief and the framework of a final agreement.
Swiss authorities confirmed that the memorandum is expected to be signed on Friday at the Bürgenstock resort.
US President Donald Trump also voiced optimism about the process, saying relations with Iran had become “normal” and that the next phase of negotiations would move quickly.
Trump said the memorandum would be made public before being submitted to Congress for review. He also expressed confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would be fully reopened by Friday.
In remarks linking the diplomatic track to Lebanon, Trump said he had suggested that Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharaa assume responsibility for dealing with Hizbollah.
“If Israel cannot get the job done without killing everybody, he will do it. Syria will do the job,” Trump said on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
“I suggested to Israel that Syria handle Hizbollah because, frankly, I think they would do a better job,” he added.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has maintained that Israeli forces will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria “for as long as necessary”.
Political analyst Amer Sabaileh said Tehran may seek to present the agreement as opening the door to ending the war in Lebanon, but its ability to shape outcomes beyond its own priorities remains limited.
“From Israel’s perspective, any agreement between Washington and Tehran does not automatically apply to Israel,” he said.
“Israel may offer some concessions on the Lebanese file to President Trump as he seeks to advance direct negotiations and present a peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel.”
“But from a security standpoint, no one, including Trump, can force Israel to abandon what it considers vital security positions without future guarantees.”
Sabaileh said Iran’s domestic priorities would likely dominate the next phase.
“Tehran may express a desire to end the war in Lebanon, but it cannot dictate the terms. What we may instead see is a separate US-led track aimed at reaching peace between Lebanon and Israel.”
The differing interpretations of the memorandum highlight the uncertainty surrounding its implementation and whether it can evolve into a broader regional settlement
