Key facts
- Hezbollah stated Iran will demand Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in negotiations with the US.
- Hezbollah linked any Iran-US nuclear deal to Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
- Hezbollah reaffirmed its right to self-defense amid ongoing Israeli tensions.
- The group rejected linking Israeli withdrawal to internal matters like disarmament.
- A 2024 ceasefire agreement was previously reached, but violations are alleged.
Hezbollah announced on Tuesday that Iran has assured the group it will demand Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon as part of its negotiations with the United States. The Lebanese militant group stated that no nuclear deal between Iran and the U.S. would be reached unless Israel withdraws its troops from Lebanese territory. This development comes amid ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, with Hezbollah reaffirming its right to self-defense as long as Israeli occupation persists. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qamati rejected linking Israeli withdrawal to internal Lebanese matters, such as disarmament. Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan emphasized the group's readiness to defend Lebanon and adhere to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while accusing Israel of violating the cessation of hostilities. The Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, is reportedly nearing the completion of a weapons control plan. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hezbollah of rearming, and Defense Minister Israel Katz has urged Lebanon to disarm the group. A ceasefire was reportedly agreed upon in November 2024, but both sides have accused each other of violations.