Iran Reasserts Lebanon Ceasefire as Core Condition in US Peace MOU Talks

Iran has again made a ceasefire in Lebanon a core condition for any memorandum of understanding with the US to end hostilities, as negotiations over the pact have stalled at the last minute.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on June 1 that "it is clear that any ceasefire between Iran and the United States means a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon." He added that a violation on any front would amount to a breach of the ceasefire on all fronts, and that the US and Israel would bear responsibility for the consequences.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the US naval blockade and the escalation of war crimes in Lebanon by the "genocidal Zionist regime" — referring to Israel — clear evidence that Washington had violated the ceasefire.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the US was behind everything happening in Lebanon and stressed that a ceasefire there was a fundamental condition for all negotiations aimed at ending the war.

Iran has long demanded a Lebanon ceasefire. The renewed emphasis by key figures involved in negotiations with Washington on the same day appears to reflect both Israel's expanded airstrikes on Lebanon and discussions over a revised US proposal.

The New York Times reported on May 30 that President Donald Trump had tightened the terms of a tentative peace MOU and that the revised document had been delivered to Iran. It has also been suggested that Israel asked for Lebanon to be excluded from the ceasefire and that the change may have been reflected in the revised draft.

Baghaei said exchanges of messages with the US were continuing. He also said the situation in Lebanon constituted a ceasefire violation by the US as well as Israel, and warned that Iran would take any steps it considered necessary to defend national security.

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter, greaterfool@hankyung.com