Iran demands Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon before resuming US nuclear talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon a precondition for resuming negotiations with the United States, signalling a hardening of Tehran’s stance on nuclear diplomacy. Araghchi stated on Tuesday that talks would not resume unless provisions relating to Lebanon in the understanding memorandum are implemented first.

The Iranian foreign minister’s comments link the ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon to the broader nuclear negotiations framework, effectively conditioning any return to discussions with Washington on a change in Israel’s military posture. This represents a significant demand that ties regional military developments directly to the nuclear agreement process.

The statement reflects Iran’s attempt to leverage the Lebanon situation as part of its negotiating position with the United States. By explicitly linking a final agreement to an Israeli withdrawal, Tehran is attempting to use its regional alliances and concerns about Israeli military action as leverage in nuclear talks, which have been stalled for some time.

The comments come against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Israeli forces conducting operations in Lebanon in recent months. Iran’s demand suggests it will not return to serious negotiations until there is a change in the military situation on the ground, complicating any potential path toward reviving the nuclear agreement discussions.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.