Iran says US must end Israel's Lebanon offensive, ensure troop withdrawal

Iran accused Israel of violating the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) by continuing military operations in Lebanon and said it was Washington's responsibility to ensure the attacks end. Tehran also warned that any attempt to challenge its control over the Strait of Hormuz would only deepen tensions and delay the reopening of the vital shipping route.

Speaking during a visit to Baghdad, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the agreement signed between Tehran and Washington required fighting to stop across the region, including in Lebanon.

In remarks shared by the Iranian Embassy in Slovenia, Araghchi said, "According to Article One of the memorandum of understanding, the war must come to an end on all fronts, including in Lebanon. We regret that the Israeli regime continues its attacks."

He said the US was responsible for ensuring the agreement was fully implemented.

"It is the responsibility of the United States, in accordance with the commitments it accepted under the memorandum of understanding, to ensure that these attacks by the Israeli regime are brought to an end and to allow the cessation of the war to be fully implemented there as well, including the withdrawal from the occupied territories," he added.

The Iranian minister urged all parties to focus on implementing the agreement instead of pursuing separate security arrangements that could undermine the ceasefire.

The comments came amid a fresh flare-up that has put the fragile US-Iran peace agreement under renewed strain. The US carried out fresh strikes on Iranian military targets after accusing Tehran of attacking commercial shipping in the strait. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, while Israel continued striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon despite a recent ceasefire.

IRAN REJECTS ANY CHALLENGE TO HORMUZ CONTROL

Araghchi also reiterated that Iran alone is responsible for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and warned against any alternative security arrangements.

"This responsibility rests on the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is no other party or state in this respect," he said.

"Any attempt to establish new or separate arrangements from those currently being carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to further complications, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and increase the level of tension, just as we witnessed over the past two nights."

Iran's state television said ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must continue coordinating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It advised vessels entering the Gulf to use routes south of Hormuz Island and those leaving to pass south of Larak Island.

The latest remarks come amid renewed conflict despite the interim US-Iran peace agreement, with Israel carrying out fresh strikes in southern Lebanon over the weekend. The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah fighters armed with rocket-propelled grenades and struck a rocket launcher in the Nabatieh area, saying the operations were aimed at preventing attacks on northern Israel.

The escalation followed a fragile ceasefire reached days earlier between Israel and Lebanon. Iran has warned that continued Israeli military action threatens the broader US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Tehran has repeatedly maintained that a lasting ceasefire requires Israel to halt its operations in Lebanon and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory.

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With inputs from agencies