Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned on Thursday that Israeli continued occupation of southern Lebanon would mean the “annulment” of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with the United States, in an interview with Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.
He said that “the second phase of our negotiations will begin to reach a final agreement, and this final agreement will be achieved only if the memorandum of understanding is fully implemented, which, in our view, means the complete cessation of attacks and the end of the occupation.”
US and Iranian negotiators are set to meet in the Swiss resort town of Burgenstock on Friday for initial talks.
“It was not acceptable for us to abandon our brothers in Lebanon,” Baghaei stated.
“As for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, as you know, we mean to end the war and put a definitive and sustainable end to it. For this reason, we cannot talk about ending the war while parts of Lebanese territory remain under the occupation of the Zionist entity. As long as the occupation continues, it can be said that the war is still in place and has not ended in essence.”
The Iranian diplomat stressed that the MoU signed with the US ensures respect for Lebanon’s territory and sovereignty.
Iran FM Spox. Baqaei: Continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon would breach the US commitments to the MoU signed.#Iran pic.twitter.com/BSzpbZ04Gm
— IranPress (@IranPress_eng) June 18, 2026
He charged that “the Zionist entity does not want to provide any opportunity for any diplomatic path to calm the situation in our region.”
“Washington is responsible for obliging the Zionist entity to respect the pledges made in the agreement,” he added.
Baghaei told Al-Akhbar that the memorandum determined that the US and Iran “will negotiate exclusively on the nuclear file and the lifting of sanctions.”
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)