Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the end of the war within the framework of the emerging understandings also requires an Israeli withdrawal from the areas it controls in southern Lebanon. The statement, reported by Israeli journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), follows a day of Iranian diplomatic signals about a regional deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday evening explicitly conditioned the end-of-war framework on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, according to a report by Asaf Rozentzweig (N12). The statement, published around 22:00, sharpens the position Araghchi had laid out in a series of public appearances throughout the day.
Earlier on Saturday, The Zioneer reported (22:20) on Araghchi's statement that "the end of the war must include all fronts, especially Lebanon." That itself followed a day of Iranian diplomatic signaling: by 14:23, an Iranian official source claimed the Lebanon ceasefire text was finalized and that Washington would compel Israel to end operations in southern Lebanon; by 16:05, Tehran declared a cessation of its own direct strikes while threatening a "crushing" response if Israeli operations in Lebanon continued; and at 18:51, The Zioneer cited Israeli defense assessments indicating Iran was backing down from direct confrontation and containing IDF strikes in southern Lebanon.
Araghchi's latest remark goes beyond those earlier general formulations. He now explicitly links the cessation of hostilities to a pullback from territory the IDF currently holds in southern Lebanon — areas seized since October 2023. The demand has been a consistent Iranian and Hezbollah position throughout the talks. As The Zioneer reported (08:49, 08:42), Hezbollah-linked outlets had already reported that Iran secured US consent for Lebanon's inclusion in a comprehensive deal and that Doha talks made "significant progress" on a framework including an Israeli withdrawal.
It remains unverified by independent or official sources whether the US or Israel has accepted the terms Araghchi described. No official Israeli response to the latest statement has been reported as of 22:57.
9 developments
- DevelopingIran says Lebanon ceasefire text finalized, US will compel Israel to end war
- StrongIran conditions war-ending deal on Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
- StrongIran: Deal Must Include Guarantees for Lebanon's Security and Territorial Integrity
- DevelopingIranian analyst: New US-Iran draft bars US from claiming 'war ended' while keeping military operations
Source and signal
- Internal intake