Iran won’t negotiate with U.S. until Israel stops strikes in Lebanon, foreign minister says

Iran will not resume negotiations with the U.S. until Israel stops its attacks in Lebanon and will not sign any final agreement until Israel fully withdraws from Lebanese territory, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday.

Araghchi, a key leader in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, made the comments while meeting with Sheikh Ali Khatib, the vice president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, who was in Tehran for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“There are five clauses in the memorandum of understanding, and there will be no negotiations or agreement without their implementation,” Araghchi said, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency. “The first of these is the issue of Lebanon and respect for its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Therefore, we assure you that we will not resume negotiations as long as the first clause of the memorandum is not implemented and a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities are not achieved,” he continued. “There will be no final agreement with the Americans except after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and no agreement without the implementation of this withdrawal.”

Israel has repeatedly said it reserves the right to defend itself by carrying out strikes when threatened by Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. Also, as part of a trilateral agreement signed two weeks ago between the U.S., Lebanon and Israel, the Israelis said they would only depart Lebanon once Hezbollah was completely disarmed and dismantled — an apparent conflict with the original 14-point memorandum of understanding signed between the U.S. and Iran.