Iran says Ceasefire in Lebanon remains key condition for any deal with US

Monday, June 1, 2026 - Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a key condition for any agreement with the United States aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“We insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for any deal aimed at ending the war,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press briefing, as Israel expands its military operations in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to push further into Lebanese territory, while the UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting following Israel’s reported capture of the medieval Beaufort Castle.

Baqaei said Iran “will take all measures to support Lebanon and the resistance against the Zionist regime’s illegal aggression.”

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also said the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and the escalation in Lebanon were evidence of “US non-compliance with the ceasefire.”

“Every choice has a price and the bill comes due,” he said in a post on X.

The comments come as Iran and the United States continue exchanging messages in an effort to finalise a framework agreement aimed at ending the war that began after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and later spread across the region.

A fragile ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel has been in place since April 8, although military confrontations have continued in Lebanon despite Tehran’s insistence that it should be included in the truce.

Baqaei accused the United States of violating the ceasefire following a brief overnight escalation in which US forces reportedly struck a telecommunications tower in southern Iran.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they responded by targeting a US base allegedly linked to the attack, though the location was not specified.

“We will take whatever measures we deem necessary to defend Iran’s national security,” Baqaei said.

He added that Iran is not seeking concessions in talks with Washington but is focused on securing its rights, including the release of frozen assets under US sanctions.

According to him, details of Iran’s nuclear programme — a major sticking point in negotiations — have not yet been discussed.

“No negotiations have taken place on the details of the nuclear file. At this stage, our priority is ending the war,” he said.

Baqaei also confirmed that indirect exchanges with the United States are ongoing, but said no final agreement has been reached.

“We will decide on the arrangements for signing at the appropriate time,” he added.