TEL AVIV — Israel’s defense minister said Monday that Israeli forces will not withdraw from territory captured in Lebanon, a stance that could complicate an interim agreement reached just hours earlier between Iran and the United States. The deal reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and extending a fragile ceasefire.
Full details of the agreement were not immediately made public. Iran indicated that implementation would not begin until the accord is formally signed, with Pakistan — a key mediator — saying that signing is expected Friday in Switzerland.
Even before any formal signing, the memorandum of understanding appeared to face significant obstacles. Israel’s ongoing military confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon, including Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, had already threatened to undermine the talks. Israel joined the United States in the war on Feb. 28.
In the first official Israeli response since the agreement was announced, Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear that Israel does not intend to leave the areas it has taken in Lebanon while the interim arrangement remains unresolved.
Katz said Israel plans to remain “indefinitely” in territory under its control in Lebanon, as well as in Syria and the Gaza Strip. Iran, for its part, has linked the interim war deal to an end to Israeli attacks on the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Katz also warned that if Iran retaliates against Israel over its operations in Lebanon, Israel would respond with what he described as “great force.”
Over the past 2 1/2 years, Israel has taken control of areas in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria amounting to 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory — an area that is slightly smaller than New York City.
Meanwhile, the deal between the U.S. and Iran gives just 60 days to resolve what to do about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its atomic program. That took years to resolve in Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from that accord in his first term, setting the stage for the tensions that culminated in the war.
“Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on social media as he celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday with a UFC cage match fight at the White House.
He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway.
He soon hedged, however, saying the strait wouldn’t open until Friday’s signing.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed Friday. He said the deal followed talks with Qatar, another mediator.
Pakistan, a key mediator, announced the deal
Pakistan first announced the deal, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying “both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” He added that mediators this week will facilitate meetings to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”
Broader negotiations on outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the next 60 days, two senior Pakistani officials said earlier Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the sides fail to reach a resolution within that time, the timeline could be extended.
Iranian state television cited the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council as saying the war on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” — and that the U.S. blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”
Qatari mediators later left Tehran following 17 hours of negotiations, said an official briefed on the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each side will take place in Doha this week, the official said.
It was not clear who from Iran would sign the deal on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the White House was still figuring out who would attend: “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”
But concern among Republicans in the U.S. already could be seen. They included U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who described Vance as “the architect of the deal.”
“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote online.
