Iran Reaffirms Position on Lebanon, Highlights US Commitments
Iran on Tuesday reiterated its stance on the ongoing regional situation in Lebanon, emphasizing that commitments made by the United States to end conflict on all fronts remain crucial. The statement was made by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei during a press briefing, as reported by Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
Baghaei stressed that the US has made explicit commitments to end the war in Lebanon and must adhere to them. "The US has explicitly made a commitment to end the war in Lebanon and must fulfil its commitment," he said.
Iran’s Clear Position and the Memorandum of Understanding
Reiterating Tehran's position, Baghaei noted that Iran's stance on Lebanon remains unchanged and clear. "Our position on Lebanon is clear. The US commitment to ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, as per Article 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding, is important to us," he added.
Iran has consistently stated that ending Israeli strikes and military operations in Lebanon was an integral part of any agreement between Iran and the United States to resolve the conflict in West Asia. Following the initial round of technical talks in Switzerland, after the signing of the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, it was agreed that a de-confliction cell involving the parties and Lebanon, facilitated by mediators, would be established to ensure compliance with the termination of military operations in Lebanon under the MoU.
Israel’s Stance and Iran’s Diplomatic Plans
However, Israel has repeatedly declared that it will not withdraw from regions captured by its military in Southern Lebanon, citing threats from Hezbollah. This stance complicates the implementation of the MoU.
Baghaei also stated that the Islamic Republic has no plans to hold any meetings with the United States in the coming days at any level, even as diplomatic engagements continue separately in Doha regarding the implementation of the 14-point MoU. "Basically, we have no plans to meet with the American side at any level in the next few days," he clarified.
He explained that discussions scheduled in Doha are not political negotiations with Washington but rather technical-level talks linked to implementing previously agreed understandings, including issues related to frozen Iranian assets. "What will be done in Doha tomorrow is a discussion on the implementation of clauses of the memorandum of understanding, including the release of Iran's frozen assets, which is with the Qatari side," Baghaei added.
Qatar’s Role in Frozen Assets
Earlier, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari noted that the USD 6 billion in frozen Iranian funds has not yet been transferred to Tehran, adding that any such movement would depend on the progress of negotiations. During a press briefing, he said that the release of funds would proceed according to the advancement of negotiations, underscoring that financial arrangements remain linked to ongoing diplomatic developments.
