Israeli security officials seek clarity on Iran deal and Lebanon operations

A senior security official said Monday that Israel’s defense establishment is waiting for political clarification on the implications of the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement and the issues that remain unresolved. He said Israel is less focused on the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and more on Iran’s nuclear program. According to him, it is still unclear what will happen to Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, including whether it will be removed after 60 days of negotiations or diluted on Iranian soil. He also noted that Iran previously made nuclear commitments under the Obama administration, adding that ballistic missiles are not even being discussed.

On Lebanon, the official said Israel is not currently being asked to withdraw from the areas where its forces are operating. “The IDF continues to defend the yellow line,” he said. Even so, he warned that the future of Israel’s freedom of action is unclear. “It is not clear what will happen with self-defense, and what about identifying and removing an immediate threat in Lebanon. There are no clear answers,” he said. He added that the IDF still has additional missions in southern Lebanon, including areas north of the current yellow line.

The comments came after the IDF on Saturday revealed findings from a tunnel network under the Beaufort Ridge in Lebanon, which it says was planned and financed by Iran. Troops found maps showing Hezbollah plans to attack northern Israeli communities, at a site where militants who tried to flee were killed in an airstrike days earlier.

The IDF said the underground infrastructure in the area, including the tunnels themselves, was planned and funded by Iran and is considered a strategic Hezbollah asset. To reach the Beaufort area, forces first cleared the Litani River zone, engaged militants at close range, and opened routes under difficult terrain and fire. The operation is aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s Badr Unit stronghold, which Israeli forces say anchored the group’s defense line in southern Lebanon.