Iran: No sustainable US deal without guarantee of Lebanon’s security

Iran declared on Monday that no agreement with the United States will be sustainable “without the comprehensive guarantee of Lebanon’s security and territorial independence.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters, as cited by Tasnim, that “the mention of the name ‘Lebanon’ three times in the recent memorandum of understanding shows the strategic position of this country in the reconciliation process.” He added that “establishing a ceasefire and ending the war in Lebanon is an integral part of the comprehensive understanding to end the war.”

Economic priorities

Baqaei stressed that the release of Iran’s frozen assets and compensation for war losses are “two important economic priorities” in the memorandum reached with Washington. “The United States is obliged to cancel all primary and secondary sanctions, resolutions of the Security Council and the nuclear agency,” he said. Details concerning nuclear and economic issues will be completed within 60 days of the agreement’s signing. Once the memorandum is signed on Friday, all existing restrictions on the sale of Iranian oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals “will be lifted immediately.”

Context

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country led mediation between Washington and Tehran, announced early Monday that the US and Iran had reached a peace agreement, with a signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland.