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.

“The withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese areas is necessary for reaching a final and lasting agreement to establish regional stability,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Sunday, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

Iran also insisted on the full implementation of the first clause of the memorandum — ending Israel’s war and military operations against Lebanon, Baghaei said.

The first article of the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month calls for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

It also says “the final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” but does not explicitly demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Israel has consistently refused to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, citing an ongoing threat from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah to communities in northern Israel.

On Friday, the Israeli and Lebanese governments agreed a process by which the Lebanese military (LAF) would gradually take control of zones in southern Lebanon.

So far the Lebanese military has been unable to force Hezbollah to disarm or withdraw its fighters from southern Lebanon.

Source: CNN

– Agencies