Iran Says Deal to End War Requires Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon

The issue of Israeli forces in Lebanon has emerged as a contentious issue in the peace talks, with Israel saying it intends to stay for security reasons.

Israeli soldiers patrol along the border with southern Lebanon, in northern Israel, on April 17, 2026. Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images

Officials in Tehran said Tuesday that any agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war requires Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, while U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s handling of its campaign against Hezbollah as too bloody.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on June 16 that continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon or the ongoing presence of Israeli troops in Lebanese territory seized during the conflict would violate a U.S.–Iran framework for ending the war.