Lebanon Faces New Test as Iran-Backed Deal Overshadows Beirut

A looming agreement between Iran and the United States is putting Lebanon’s leadership under pressure, even as President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have tried to steer the country away from Tehran’s long-standing influence and curb Hezbollah’s military role. Beirut’s official line is that only the Lebanese state can negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf, and Aoun reiterated last week that outside help is welcome only if it does not interfere in internal affairs.

The timing is awkward for the government, because Israel has continued limited strikes in southern Lebanon. On Monday afternoon, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar reported a drone attack in the village of Tebnine, where the Israeli army said it had carried out an “elimination of a threat” against a vehicle. Hezbollah sources said they had observed a ceasefire, arguing that any truce depends on Israel.

Tensions between Beirut and Tehran have already sharpened in recent months. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Reza Shibani, remains persona non grata, but Hezbollah and Iran have kept pressing to preserve their alliance. On the 12th, Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc praised Iran’s missile response to last week’s Israeli strike on Beirut’s Dahiyeh neighborhood and said that response obliges Lebanon’s political leadership to rebuild ties with Tehran.

After the new Iran-US understanding, Iranian officials and Hezbollah are now portraying Tehran as the force bringing the fighting in Lebanon to a halt. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said ending the war in Lebanon is part of the broader ceasefire arrangement. Hezbollah then thanked Iran for what it called a major achievement and said the government and all Lebanese political forces should return to a unified national position and “reconsider all calculations and paths taken.”

Aoun, Salam and parliament speaker Nabih Berri all welcomed the deal, though Lebanese media reported that the presidency had not yet received an official briefing on its details. Salam said his government is seeking a full Israeli withdrawal, the release of Lebanese prisoners and reconstruction funds. Aoun said the Lebanese people now expect practical steps that will end violence and open a phase of stability, security and recovery. The next round of direct Lebanese-Israeli talks is expected to begin on the 22nd.