Iran’s Esmaeil Baqaei Urges US Timetable for Israel’s Unconditional Withdrawal From Lebanon

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei urged the United States to establish a clear timetable for Israel’s unconditional withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, saying “Ending the war and military operations of the Zionist regime against Lebanon” is essential for regional stability.

Baqaei said Tehran expects Washington to fulfill commitments under the memorandum of understanding and “take all necessary measures to force the Zionist regime to stop any aggression and military operations against all Lebanese regions.”

Al Jazeera

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf told Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in a phone call that Tehran is “seriously pursuing” ending the war in Lebanon and restoring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Qalibaf said that after Iran’s objections over violations of the provision, it was agreed to establish a conflict-control unit between Iran, the US and Lebanon to monitor implementation, with “Our goal is ending the war in Lebanon” and securing withdrawal of the Zionist regime from Lebanese territory.

CNN also tied Lebanon to the wider US-Iran track, saying Iran says a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon must be part of a final deal with the US as fighting with Hezbollah strains peace efforts.

In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah killed an Israeli soldier in Deir Siryan village, and Israel’s military said it responded by killing the man responsible, according to NPR.

NPR also reported that Hezbollah’s leader said the group would fight on until Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon, while another Lebanese media outlet reported that Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called for an urgent meeting of a newly formed conflict control unit involving Iran, the U.S. and Lebanon.

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

CNN said the fresh Israeli attacks come despite a US-brokered agreement signed between Israel, Lebanon and the US two days ago, and it reported that Israel approved continued military operations in southern Lebanon “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.”

CNN added that Hezbollah has cast the pact as meaningless and is not party to the ceasefire agreement, while Israel has said it will not withdraw from territory it occupies in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.

NPR described the ceasefire signed earlier this month as not including Iran or Hezbollah, and it said Israel has said it will not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed while Hezbollah rejected that demand, saying it won’t disarm until Israel pulls out.

The dispute over Lebanon is being treated as a test of the broader US-Iran memorandum, with CNN saying technical talks regarding the US-Iran memorandum of understanding are “on track for the coming days as planned” and deconfliction channels are up and running after the Lake Lucerne Summit.

CNN also quoted a senior US administration official saying, “Nothing has been canceled,” while it reported President Donald Trump threatened more military action if Iranian strikes continue and Iran warned ceasefire violations would “result in the complete halt of all diplomatic processes.”

WANA News Agency reported that Nabih Berri said Iran’s efforts during the Switzerland talks served the interests of the Lebanese people but claimed that the Israeli regime is attempting to circumvent restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity under the Islamabad understanding.

WANA said the two speakers emphasized the need to convene the Conflict Control Unit as soon as possible to oversee efforts aimed at controlling and ending the war in Lebanon.

The Guardian framed the Lebanon ceasefire as one of the most vexed issues in the US-Iran memorandum, saying the difficulty is that “two ceasefire agreements had been agreed—and they are pulling against each other.”