Iran welcomes Israel-Lebanon сeasefire but reaffirms support for resistance

Iran has expressed support for the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel while reaffirming its commitment to aiding the Lebanese people and resistance forces. 

This stance was outlined in a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, published on the ministry's Telegram channel, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

“The Foreign Ministry spokesman [Esmail Baghaei] welcomes the news of the cessation of the Zionist regime's aggression against Lebanon but emphasizes the Islamic Republic's unchanged stance on supporting the government, people, and resistance of Lebanon,” the statement reads.

The ministry also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the region. It urged global powers to pressure Israel into ending its ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Hezbollah, founded in 1982 as an Iranian-backed Shiite militant group, continues to operate as a key player in what is often referred to as the "Axis of Resistance." The group, which has long served as Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, was a central party to the recent ceasefire agreement.

Despite welcoming the truce, Iran has not shied away from warning Israel of consequences for recent actions. On November 26, Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, announced plans for a response to an Israeli strike on Iranian territory on October 26.

“Just as the two previous operations (referring to Iran’s strikes on Israeli territory on April 13 and October 1, 2024) differed in their form and weaponry used, the response to Israel's latest aggression is planned in such a way as to strike the imagination of the leaders of the [Israeli] regime,” Bagheri said, as reported by Iranian state media.

He accused Israel of “crossing Iran’s red lines” by targeting Iranian territory and killing four soldiers. Tehran’s retaliation, he declared, would be delivered at an appropriate time and would “make the aggressors repent.”

The ceasefire agreement, which went into effect at 4:00 a.m. local time in Lebanon on November 27, was brokered through US-French mediation. According to US President Joe Biden, the terms of the deal stipulate that Lebanese forces will regain control of their southern territories within 60 days. The Israeli army is expected to withdraw gradually, allowing displaced civilians on both sides to return to their homes and begin reconstruction efforts.

This agreement marks a significant step toward de-escalation, but the underlying tensions and ongoing dynamics, including Iran’s firm rhetoric and regional ambitions, suggest that peace remains fragile.

By Tamilla Hasanova