Iran Warns Israel’s Lebanon Stay Would Break Ceasefire Deal

Iran’s top diplomat said Tuesday that any continued Israeli military presence in Lebanon would violate the interim ceasefire deal brokered by the United States. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded that Israel will remain in Lebanon “as long as necessary,” setting up a direct clash over the deal’s terms. The dispute centers on a temporary agreement meant to end months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Iran’s foreign minister, speaking on condition of anonymity, insisted the deal requires a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu’s office countered that Israel reserves the right to stay to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping near the border. Neither side has released the full text of the agreement, leaving its exact language unclear. The United States, which helped broker the deal, has not publicly clarified the disputed clause. Analysts say the ambiguity risks unraveling the fragile truce.