Key facts
- Israel will continue operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Lebanon is not part of the US-announced trade deal with Iran.
- Israel's goal is to remove nuclear and ballistic missile threats from Iran.
- President Trump announced a deal with Iran was complete.
- Israeli minister Ben-Gvir stated Israel is not bound by the Trump agreement.
Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar stated that Israel will continue its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, emphasizing that Lebanon is not part of the US-announced trade deal with Iran. Azar clarified that Israel's objective is to remove nuclear and ballistic missile threats from Iran, rather than seeking regime change.
Speaking with ANI, Azar affirmed that the Jewish state would continue dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. He noted that Israel is not part of the agreement and that the Israeli cabinet would need to review its details. Azar also warned that if Iran invests the money released through the Memorandum of Understanding into military means instead of public welfare, it could lead to a setback with its people.
His remarks followed an announcement by President Donald Trump that a deal with Iran was complete, which he stated would bring peace and security to the region and reopen oil flow through a strategic waterway. However, Israeli minister Ben-Gvir posted on X that Israel is not bound by Trump's agreement, asserting Israel's absolute sovereignty and independence from the United States.