Iran Demands US Guarantees for Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon

Iran is reportedly demanding U.S. guarantees for a future Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon as part of any potential agreement with Washington, according to a report in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. Tehran aims to leverage perceived political weakness in Israel and pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump to secure a binding settlement.

Following a previous attempt in June, Iran insists that a U.S. promise to cease hostilities in Lebanon is insufficient without a mechanism for Israeli forces to leave southern Lebanon and guarantees preventing continued military presence under the guise of disarming Hezbollah or addressing security threats.

While these developments could alter the regional landscape, they do not necessarily signal a shift in Israel's conditions. Iran faces the challenge of capitalizing on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political vulnerability and Trump's desire for a deal to achieve a U.S. commitment that makes a withdrawal feasible. This contrasts with the U.S. approach, which offers security assurances but conditions withdrawal on bilateral negotiations and Israel's security assessments.

The Lebanese government is urged to seize this diplomatic window, rather than solely awaiting regional negotiation outcomes. Al-Akhbar suggests Beirut should initiate a diplomatic effort demanding a binding timeline for Israeli withdrawal, coupled with phased steps to bolster the Lebanese army's deployment and state sovereignty, backed by international guarantees and a monitoring mechanism to prevent Israel from imposing ongoing conditions.

Lebanese diplomatic sources reportedly advise against relying solely on U.S. mediation, which they believe favors Israeli demands. They advocate for integrating the withdrawal into any future settlement with clear implementation mechanisms to ensure Lebanese sovereignty is not held hostage.