Iran wants full 'Israeli' withdrawal from Lebanon as part of final deal with US

• Iran says a final agreement with the US must include a complete 'Israeli' withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory.
• The demand comes as 'Israel' continues military operations in southern Lebanon despite a recent memorandum aimed at ending hostilities.

Iran says that a full withdrawal of 'Israeli' forces from Lebanon must be part of a final deal with the US, as fighting continues to strain the tentative US-Iran agreement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday that ending the occupation of Lebanese territory was essential to achieving lasting regional stability.

"The withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese areas is necessary for reaching a final and lasting agreement to establish regional stability," Baghaei said, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.

Baghaei also stressed that the first clause of the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month must be fully implemented. The clause calls for the immediate and permanent end of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

While the memorandum commits both sides to permanently ending the war across multiple fronts, it does not explicitly require the withdrawal of 'Israeli' troops from southern Lebanon.

Iran argues that ending military operations alone is insufficient without a full military withdrawal.

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, reaffirmed Tehran's position during talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Sunday.

"Our objective is to end the war in Lebanon, enable displaced people to return to their homes, end the occupation, and secure the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from Lebanese territory," Ghalibaf said.

"We are pursuing this matter with determination," he added.

The diplomatic push comes as 'Israel' continues to maintain forces in parts of southern Lebanon, arguing that the presence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement poses an ongoing threat to communities in northern 'Israel'.

On Friday, the Lebanese and 'Israeli' governments agreed on a phased process under which the Lebanese Armed Forces would gradually assume control of areas in southern Lebanon.

However, the Lebanese military has so far been unable to compel Hezbollah to disarm or withdraw its fighters from the border region, leaving the implementation of the agreement uncertain.

Iran's latest demand adds another condition to ongoing negotiations surrounding the US-Iran understanding and highlights the unresolved status of southern Lebanon. With 'Israeli' forces remaining in the area and Hezbollah maintaining its presence, significant obstacles remain before a comprehensive and lasting settlement can be reached.