Iran demands Israel leave Lebanon as ceasefire deal frays

Iran's top diplomat said Tuesday that a tentative ceasefire deal with the United States would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon — a condition Israel has already rejected and one that could collapse the agreement entirely.

The deal, brokered primarily by Pakistan, has not been made public and officials have offered conflicting interpretations of its contents. Israel is not formally party to the agreement but is central to its success: it joined the U.S. in launching strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, and has since fought Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, seizing significant territory.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated flatly that Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the deal. "Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end," he said.

Pakistan, the key mediator, has said the agreement called for an end to military operations, including in Lebanon, as Iran long insisted. Araghchi's demand for withdrawal adds a new wrinkle — and a new obstacle.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal did not call for Israeli withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that Israel would remain in Lebanon "as long as necessary."

The disagreement underscores how much remains unresolved ahead of a planned ceremonial signing Friday in Geneva. Negotiations have been plagued by such conflicts before, resulting in a prolonged but fragile ceasefire that has failed to stabilize into lasting peace. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, remains effectively closed.

The agreement is meant to provide a meaningful truce after months of war that has killed thousands across the Middle East, destabilized energy markets, and raised prices on fuel, food and basic goods far beyond the region.