Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Tuesday that continued Israeli military presence in parts of southern Lebanon would undermine the spirit of the agreement and could jeopardize efforts to achieve a lasting peace.
"Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end," Araghchi said.
The comments highlight growing disagreements over the interpretation of the interim peace framework, which has not yet been fully released to the public. While the agreement focuses primarily on ending hostilities between Washington and Tehran, regional issues — particularly Lebanon — have quickly become a major point of contention.
Israel has maintained that its forces will remain in strategic areas of southern Lebanon until security threats from Hezbollah are eliminated. Israeli officials argue that any withdrawal without firm security guarantees would risk renewed attacks on northern Israeli communities.
The dispute is particularly sensitive because Israel joined the conflict against Iran in February and has since conducted extensive operations against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group based in Lebanon. Large areas of southern Lebanon remain under Israeli military control following months of fighting.
Diplomats fear the disagreement could derail broader peace efforts. Western officials say the success of the agreement may ultimately depend on whether a separate understanding can be reached regarding Lebanon's security situation and the future role of Hezbollah.
Analysts warn that if negotiations break down over Lebanon, the current ceasefire could unravel, potentially drawing the United States, Iran, Israel and Hezbollah back into a wider regional conflict.
For now, the peace agreement remains in place, but the dispute over Lebanon has emerged as the biggest obstacle to turning the temporary framework into a lasting settlement.