U.S. and Iran Reach Preliminary Peace Deal Ending Operations in Lebanon

The United States and Iran reached a preliminary peace deal that includes the immediate end of military operations in Lebanon. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson stated on June 15 that Lebanon is an integral part of the agreement. The draft memorandum mentions Lebanon three times and calls for an end to the war on all fronts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Pakistan’s National Assembly that the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations has been announced across all fronts including Iran, America, and Lebanon. The US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. After the 2023 Hamas attack, Israel seized control of areas in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria amounting to hundreds of square kilometres of territory.

The Lebanese army warned residents to exercise caution when returning to border villages in southern Lebanon. In a statement on social media, the army advised people to follow instructions from deployed army units to avoid risks from Israeli violations and attacks. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the deal “bad for Israel”.

Naftali Bennett described the deal as a “dangerous turn for Israel’s security”. Yair Golan stated that Israel’s military achievements have been “erased” with the “stroke of a pen”. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces will remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for an unlimited period of time.

He said the policy is intended to protect the border and Israeli communities against jihadist elements. The UAE Foreign Ministry welcomed the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran and called for full compliance with the agreement’s provisions, including immediate cessation of hostilities and respect for sovereignty.

China, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia each issued statements welcoming the tentative agreement and commending the mediation roles of Pakistan and Qatar.

The war largely stopped shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which had carried one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the war. India’s Petronet sent the LNG tanker Disha through the Strait of Hormuz; the tanker picked up cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan on March 1 and is headed to the Dahej terminal in India.