Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Tuesday that a tentative agreement to end the war with the United States requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, a condition that Israel has already rejected and could potentially derail the entire accord. The deal, brokered primarily by Pakistan and set to be ceremonially signed on Friday in Geneva, has not been made public, and officials have offered conflicting interpretations of its terms.
While Israel is not a direct party to the agreement, it has been deeply involved in the conflict, joining the U.S. in strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequently fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon while seizing large areas of that country.
Araghchi insisted that Israel's continued occupation of southern Lebanon violates the deal's intent. "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.
Pakistani mediators have stated the agreement calls for an end to military operations, including in Lebanon, aligning with Iran's long-standing demands. However, a U.S.
official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal does not require an Israeli withdrawal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will remain in Lebanon "as long as necessary."
The disagreement highlights how much of the agreement remains unresolved. The deal is intended to provide a meaningful truce in a monthslong war that has killed thousands across the Middle East, including top leaders of Iran's theocracy, and raised global prices of fuel, food, and other goods.
The unpublished accord includes the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of blockades, according to senior U.S. officials.
It also involves the potential release of Iran's frozen funds and a $300 billion reconstruction fund, contingent on Tehran meeting certain benchmarks. President Donald Trump has stated the U.S.
will not directly invest in Iran.
Regional officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations said the deal would require Israel to leave nearly all occupied territory in Lebanon, except for a few hilltop points. They confirmed that Iran insisted on including Lebanon in the accord during the final days of talks.
The release of Iranian assets is tied to Tehran's implementation of the deal, and Gulf Arab states have pledged billions for Iran's economy. Another point of contention is Iran's nuclear program.
The interim deal starts a 60-day clock for talks on Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with Iran agreeing to discuss diluting or removing it, though hard-liners oppose giving it up.
Meanwhile, world leaders gathered in France for the Group of Seven summit, where Iran is a key topic. Trump has clashed with European leaders over not consulting them before the Iran war, but leaders are expected to seek ways to ease the economic fallout from rising oil prices due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Trump criticized Israel's strategy in Lebanon, saying it "just goes on forever" and casts a negative light on the Iran deal. Leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and Canada issued a joint statement congratulating the diplomatic breakthrough and stressing the need for rapid implementation to reopen the strait.