Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, head of Iran's negotiating team, said Tuesday that the first article of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding commits Washington to ending the war in Lebanon, enabling the return of residents, and enforcing Lebanese sovereignty — calling it a 'very great victory.' He warned that Iran is prepared for war if commitments are not upheld in further talks.
Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, said Tuesday afternoon that the first article of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding commits Washington to ending the war in Lebanon, enabling the return of residents, and enforcing Lebanese sovereignty — calling it a 'very great victory.' In the same statement, Qalibaf warned that if further talks fail to secure implementation, Iran is prepared for war. The warning escalates Tehran's rhetoric: as The Zioneer reported at 15:01 Jerusalem, Iran's foreign ministry had already blocked IAEA inspectors from nuclear sites and ruled out U.S. talks in the coming days, while claiming an explicit U.S. commitment on Lebanon.
Over the course of Tuesday, the thread unfolded in stages. At 15:01 Jerusalem, Iran's foreign ministry first asserted the U.S. commitment on Lebanon while blocking IAEA access (version 2). Within the same hour, parliament speaker Qalibaf specified that articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11 of the MoU must be implemented before talks resume (version 3). A second Iranian official source then stated, as The Zioneer reported, that Tehran is 'monitoring' implementation (version 4), and Qalibaf's own later remarks added the explicit war warning (version 5). The progression shows Iran moving from mere assertion to setting conditions, monitoring, and now issuing a deterrent threat — all within a single day.
The MoU, first reported by Bloomberg as a leaked memo on June 17, would see Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give a verbal pledge against pursuing nuclear weapons in exchange for U.S. sanctions relief, a $300 billion reconstruction fund, and a U.S.-backed commitment to end the war in Lebanon. As The Zioneer reported on Monday (June 15), foreign ministry spokesman Baghaie warned that any violation of U.S. commitments would be met with countermeasures. Earlier, on June 12, Foreign Minister Araghchi asserted that the end of war must include 'all fronts, especially Lebanon.' The leaked memo itself reported the U.S. commitment to end the war in Lebanon, including an Israeli commitment — though Israel has not confirmed any such pledge.
What remains unverified: the MoU's status is still at a 'proposed framework' stage; no binding text has been made public. Israel has not confirmed the alleged U.S. commitment on Lebanon, and the U.S. has not officially commented on Qalibaf's latest warning.
6 developments
- DevelopingIran says Lebanon ceasefire text finalized, US will compel Israel to end war
- StrongIran warns US must enforce Lebanon ceasefire obligations from MoU
- StrongIran: no final agreement with US without halt to Lebanon hostilities
- DevelopingIRGC spokesperson warns: Iran committed to US deal but ready to strike if Lebanon attacks continue
Source and signal
- Internal intake