Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman told the Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar that the emerging memorandum of understanding guarantees Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity — meaning a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Hours later, official Israel released an unequivocal statement that it has no intention of withdrawing from any territory it has captured in Lebanon. The exchange escalates the dispute over the terms of the US-Iran framework, which The Zioneer has been tracking as it develops.
The exchange marks the sharpest public clash over the emerging US-Iran framework since the contours of a potential deal began to circulate last week. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, in an interview published Thursday evening by the Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, declared that the memorandum of understanding under discussion guarantees Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity — which, he said, necessitates a full withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanese soil. He warned that if a full withdrawal does not occur, the memorandum would be considered null and void, and any subsequent negotiations would not yield a final agreement.
Within hours, Israeli official sources released a firm public statement rejecting that interpretation outright. According to Doron Kadosh and Moriah Asraf (N13/Army Radio), the statement says Israel has no intention of withdrawing from any territory it controls in Lebanon. The position aligns with what Israeli officials have been briefing privately and publicly for days.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, when Iran first made this claim, Israel flatly denied it. The thread dates back to at least June 12, when the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar first reported that Iran had received final American consent for Lebanon's inclusion in a broad regional agreement. Since then, the desk has tracked multiple conflicting signals: Iranian officials insisting on full withdrawal, American sources telling Lebanon's MTV channel that Lebanon is not a direct part of the deal and no withdrawal condition applies, and Israeli sources repeatedly stressing the IDF will remain in the field.
What remains unverified is whether the draft memorandum of understanding actually includes a Lebanon clause at all, and if so, with what precise wording. Neither Washington, Tehran, nor Jerusalem has released the full document. Iran's statement to Al-Akhbar is the latest in a series of competing public interpretations.
3 developments
- StrongIsrael insists no withdrawal from Lebanon under understandings with Iran
- DevelopingNo official confirmation released on reported US-Iran deal terms for Lebanon
- StrongAraghchi says Lebanon war end inseparable from Iran's, demands full Israeli withdrawal
- DevelopingReport: Full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon agreed upon
Source and signal
- Internal intake