Iran Urges US To Set Timeline For ‘Unconditional’ Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon

ISTANBUL, June 29 (NNN-Anadolu) -- Iran urged the US on Sunday to set a timetable for Israel’s “unconditional” withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories under a war-ending memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

“Ending the war and military operations of the Zionist regime against Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of occupiers from all occupied Lebanese territories, is a necessary condition for reaching a final and sustainable agreement to establish stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a news briefing carried by ISNA News Agency.

Baqaei said Tehran considers safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as “the dignity and security of all Lebanese people,” as “essential” for the durability of any agreement related to ending the war with the US.

Iran has placed “ending the war and military operations of the Zionist regime in Lebanon alongside ending the war against Iran” at the top of its demands in both the April ceasefire understanding and the June 18 memorandum, he added.

Baqaei also said Iran expects Washington to fulfill its commitments under the memorandum and “take all necessary measures to force the Zionist regime to stop any aggression and military operations against all Lebanese regions.”

He added that Tehran is calling for “the swift determination of a timetable for unconditional withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri that Tehran is “seriously pursuing” the end of the war in Lebanon.

According to Iranian media, Qalibaf said one of the main issues discussed during last week’s talks with the US in Switzerland was “ending the war in Lebanon and restoring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He said the issue forms a central part of the first clause of the Islamabad memorandum and that, following Iran’s objections over violations of the provision, it was agreed to establish a conflict-control unit between Iran, the US and Lebanon to monitor implementation.

“Our goal is ending the war in Lebanon, returning displaced people to their homes, ending the occupation and securing the withdrawal of the Zionist regime from Lebanese territory,” Qalibaf said.

The developments come as Iran and the US continue efforts to implement the broader 14-point understanding reached after weeks of regional military escalation and diplomatic negotiations.

--NNN-ANADOLU