Iran Links U.S. Ceasefire to End of Israel-Hezbollah Fighting

Iranian leaders continue to insist that any agreement with the United States must include a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The fighting between the two sides threatens to derail the whole peace process. The U.S. and Israel went to war against Iran on Feb.

28. Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel days later. With the U.S. and Iran on the verge of a deal that could lead to long-term stability, continued exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah could collapse the agreement before it is finalized.

A senior administration official said on Monday that Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon was not a condition of the deal. The official added that the agreement is a ceasefire and will not be one-way, meaning Israel retains the right to respond if Hezbollah attacks its positions or towns.

The Israeli Air Force reported on Monday that it intercepted numerous Hezbollah rockets aimed at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Israeli leaders maintain they have the right to defend themselves, but they angered President Donald Trump with a recent operation over the weekend.

Trump said Israel's Sunday operation on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a day when the sides were close to a peace deal with Iran. He noted that Israel has the right to defend itself, but described the Hezbollah attack it was responding to as very small and meaningless.

Earlier this month, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon. It was the first such Iranian strike since the Trump-announced April 7 ceasefire. The agreement that Vice President JD Vance said has been signed digitally is not believed to address Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, or its support for proxy groups such as Hezbollah.