Israel signaled Wednesday that it has no intention of withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon, creating a new obstacle for diplomatic efforts aimed at transforming the fragile Iran-U.S. peace framework into a broader regional settlement.
The stance emerged as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled across the Gulf region seeking support for a preliminary accord reached between Washington and Tehran last week, an agreement designed to end months of conflict that disrupted energy markets, triggered attacks across the Middle East and temporarily shut down commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon regardless of ongoing discussions involving the United States, Lebanon and regional mediators.
“The IDF is prepared, and we are not retreating,” Katz said during a public appearance in Tel Aviv. “We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing, and as of this moment there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.”
Israel maintains that its military presence in southern Lebanon is necessary to protect communities in northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah and other armed groups operating near the border.
The comments came as Lebanese and Israeli representatives continued discussions in Washington over a U.S.-backed proposal that would transfer control of some disputed areas from Israeli forces to the Lebanese army.
For Tehran, however, the conflict in Lebanon remains inseparable from broader negotiations with Washington.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reiterated that ending hostilities in Lebanon remains one of Tehran’s central objectives.
“For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran,” Qalibaf said during a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states in Baku. “An end to the war in Lebanon is as important as an end to the war in Iran.”
The disagreement underscores how fragile the emerging diplomatic process remains despite the signing of a preliminary accord between the United States and Iran.
The agreement, announced after negotiations in Switzerland, established a 60-day framework for discussions on sanctions relief, maritime security, Iran’s nuclear program and broader regional stability.
While the accord has been welcomed as a breakthrough after months of warfare, major disputes continue to emerge over its implementation.
One of the most contentious issues remains Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli forces have continued operations in the country despite growing diplomatic pressure to pursue a broader regional de-escalation.
Lebanese security and medical officials reported Wednesday that an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed at least two people.
The Israeli military said it was reviewing the reports. Earlier, it acknowledged carrying out airstrikes against two armed Hezbollah operatives near an area controlled by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanon issue is only one of several disputes surrounding the peace framework.
Regional governments have also expressed concern over provisions that could provide significant economic benefits to Iran, including discussions surrounding a reconstruction mechanism reportedly worth up to $300 billion and the easing of certain sanctions.
Some Gulf states have privately questioned whether the agreement offers too many concessions to Tehran after months of missile and drone attacks across the region.
Rubio’s regional tour is intended in part to address those concerns.
On Wednesday, he met United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other senior Emirati officials before continuing visits to Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which host major U.S. military installations and suffered Iranian attacks during the conflict.
The diplomatic effort comes as conflicting accounts continue to emerge regarding the details of the agreement itself.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly defended the accord, arguing that it will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while creating economic opportunities for both countries.
Trump said frozen Iranian funds released under the framework would be used to purchase food and medical supplies from the United States.
Iranian officials have challenged that characterization and insisted that sanctions relief remains subject to further negotiations.
Disputes have also intensified over nuclear inspections.
Trump recently claimed Iran had agreed to permit long-term monitoring of its nuclear facilities.
Iranian officials immediately rejected that assertion.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said no meeting had taken place with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi and emphasized that Tehran has no current plans to grant inspectors access to nuclear sites damaged during military operations.
He added that any future inspections would only be considered within the framework of a final agreement and after sanctions are fully addressed.
The disagreement highlights the continued mistrust between the two countries despite progress at the negotiating table.
Another unresolved issue concerns the future governance of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Commercial shipping has gradually resumed following the reopening of the route, helping drive oil prices lower in recent days.
However, negotiations continue over long-term arrangements governing navigation and security in the strait.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani traveled to Oman on Wednesday to discuss the issue with regional leaders, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the talks.
Gulf nations are expected to oppose any new transit charges on shipping traffic, while Iran is reportedly exploring proposals involving navigation, environmental and security-related fees.
The issue generated fresh controversy after reports suggested Tehran might seek new charges for vessels transiting the waterway.
Trump responded Wednesday by stating that Iranian officials had assured Washington no such fees would be imposed.
“Iran has informed the U.S. that there are no tolls, no insurance costs and no other charges of any kind being sought or received by Iran on ships traveling the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on social media.
The statement appeared aimed at calming concerns among energy markets and shipping companies that remain cautious despite the restoration of maritime traffic.
While oil exports have begun recovering and tanker movements through the strait are increasing, many shipping firms continue to assess security conditions before fully resuming normal operations.
With negotiations entering a critical phase, diplomats acknowledge that major differences remain over Lebanon, nuclear oversight, sanctions relief and regional security arrangements.
The success of the broader peace process may ultimately depend on whether those disputes can be resolved before the temporary 60-day framework expires.
For now, Israel’s refusal to discuss a withdrawal from southern Lebanon has become the latest reminder that ending the region’s military confrontation may prove far more complicated than reaching an initial diplomatic agreement.
