US says Israel's presence in Lebanon not part of Iran peace deal

Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon is not a condition of the newly signed framework agreement between the United States and Iran, a senior U.S. official said on June 15, stressing that Israel will continue to have the right to defend itself against attacks by Hezbollah.

The comments came as Washington and Tehran finalised a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending nearly four months of conflict between the two countries, Reuters reports.

Speaking during a briefing with reporters, the official said the agreement does not require Israel to alter its military posture in Lebanon as part of the broader diplomatic arrangement.

According to the official, Israel will retain the right to respond to any threats or attacks from Hezbollah, despite the wider effort to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.

The clarification is likely to be closely watched across the region, where concerns have emerged over whether the U.S.-Iran agreement could affect ongoing security dynamics along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The memorandum signed by Washington and Tehran is intended to establish a framework for future relations and includes provisions for further negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief.

"We are prepared to release frozen funds and we are prepared to relieve sanctions, and we'll do some small gestures of that in the beginning if they make some small gestures to us that show that they're willing to meet their commitments as well," the second U.S. official said.

He added that the ​MOU would be made public ​within 24 to 48 hours.

Officials said the agreement is also expected to facilitate the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.

By Sabina Mammadli