Iran has reaffirmed its support for Hezbollah and insisted that Israeli forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting fresh challenges facing efforts to end the wider conflict between Tehran and Washington.
The latest developments suggest that even as diplomatic channels remain open, key disagreements continue to threaten prospects for a broader regional settlement.
Speaking in an interview with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen television, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said any agreement to end the war must also address the fighting in Lebanon.
“This war will end only when it ends in Lebanon as well,” Araqchi said, adding that Israeli troops must leave territories occupied during recent military operations.
His remarks underline Tehran’s position that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains a critical condition for any deal aimed at ending the conflict that erupted after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
The war in Lebanon has unfolded alongside the broader regional confrontation. Hezbollah entered the conflict shortly after the attacks on Iran, saying it was acting in solidarity with Tehran.
The issue has become increasingly complicated following Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem’s rejection of a U.S.-backed proposal designed to halt hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah was not directly involved in the negotiations and objected to the absence of provisions requiring Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting has continued.
Israeli forces have maintained military operations in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah said Friday it carried out attacks against Israeli troops, including positions near the strategic Beaufort Castle area. Lebanese security officials also reported Israeli airstrikes on several towns across the south.
Iranian officials have made clear they are unwilling to separate Lebanon from broader ceasefire discussions.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, described Hezbollah as a key ally that had made significant sacrifices during the conflict. He warned Israel against expanding military operations, particularly any move targeting Beirut.
According to Rezaei, Lebanon must remain part of any future ceasefire arrangement.
In Beirut, however, concerns are growing that Lebanon is being drawn deeper into negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of using Lebanon as leverage in talks with the United States, describing such an approach as unacceptable.
At the same time, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally, signaled that the group could withdraw from southern Lebanon if Israeli troops also pulled out of areas they currently occupy.
The tensions come as violence continues to flare across several fronts despite ceasefire efforts brokered by the United States.
Residents in Lebanon, Gaza, northern Israel and parts of the Gulf region have all faced renewed security concerns in recent days, underscoring the fragility of existing agreements.
Adding to the uncertainty, Iran and the United States exchanged conflicting claims Friday after Tehran said its navy fired warning shots at U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Oman. American military officials denied the allegation, insisting no such confrontation occurred.
Meanwhile, disruptions to shipping and energy supplies remain a major concern.
The conflict has significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass. The disruption has pushed up energy prices and added pressure to global supply chains.
The United Nations World Food Programme warned Friday that the economic impact of the conflict is driving millions of people closer to hunger as fuel and transportation costs continue to rise.
While indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue, major issues remain unresolved.
Iran is seeking sanctions relief, access to frozen oil revenues and an easing of restrictions affecting its ports and energy exports. The United States, meanwhile, maintains that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains its primary objective.
For now, diplomats are still searching for common ground. But Iran’s insistence that Lebanon and Hezbollah be included in any final settlement suggests the path to peace may be far more complicated than negotiators had hoped.
