The complete cessation of Israeli military operations and an unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory are prerequisites for a sustainable agreement with the United States, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday. He called on Washington to “take all necessary measures to force the Zionist regime to stop any aggression” and set a swift timetable for the pullout. The demand, centred on the first clause of a US–Iran memorandum signed on 18 June, came as both sides continued efforts to translate an interim understanding into a durable 14-point framework. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in a telephone call with Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri, described ending the war in Lebanon and restoring the country’s sovereignty as integral to that clause. A conflict-management unit comprising Iran, the US and Lebanon has been formed to oversee implementation.

From Beirut, Berri—according to Iranian state television—dismissed a separate Washington-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel as a “conspiracy and sedition.” Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah labelled it a “humiliating deal” that would trigger internal strife and never be implemented. The Lebanese government, in coordination with Israel, has agreed on a process for the army to gradually assume control in the south, but the military has so far been unable to compel Hezbollah to disarm or withdraw. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar tied lasting peace to ending Iranian influence and dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities. The divergent positions underscore the fragility of any ceasefire that does not address the underlying contest over southern Lebanon.

In a separate development, an analysis published by the Israeli news outlet Ynet noted that Somalia’s accession to 15 international maritime conventions—including the 2005 Convention on Unlawful Acts against Maritime Navigation—could disrupt one of Iran’s weapons smuggling routes to the Houthis in Yemen. Written by Amin Ayoub, the analysis details how Iran has rerouted arms shipments through Somali waters following intensified US and allied interdiction on the direct path from Bandar Abbas to the port of Salif. Vessels carrying ballistic missile components and cruise missiles have been intercepted near the Somali coast, and crew testimonies indicate the IRGC uses three maritime routes, one passing through Somalia. The new treaties give Western navies a clearer legal basis to stop, inspect and prosecute suspect ships, but the analysis cautions that the central government in Mogadishu lacks control over large stretches of coast held by Al-Shabab and other armed groups. Independent researchers have documented Iranian-linked weapons in Somalia, with some reaching Al-Qaeda affiliates—a sign, the analysis argues, that the network fuels not only the Houthis but also jihadist groups across East Africa.

Iranian officials continue to voice suspicion of Washington’s commitment. A member of parliament’s National Security Commission warned the US could “tear up the memorandum like they did the JCPOA,” while judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei threatened to seize American assets if accessible. The 60-day window for reaching a final agreement is under strain as fighting persists. Iran maintains that the US bears responsibility for enforcing the first clause on all fronts, including Lebanon. No immediate US response to the timetable demand was reported. Diplomats are expected to continue consultations, and the conflict-management unit’s first meeting is urged to convene quickly, though no date has been set.