Israeli media has quoted Defence Minister Israel Katz as saying that Israel will not withdraw its forces from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Iran has consistently maintained that any peace agreement must guarantee an end to attacks on all fronts, including Lebanon.
With uncertainty over whether Israel will fully abide by the terms of the agreement, sources familiar with the negotiations told CNBC-TV18 that Washington and Tehran have reached a separate understanding on the issue.
According to the sources, even if Israel chooses not to honour the peace deal and launches attacks against Iran, Lebanon or opens any other front against Iran, the United States will stay out of the conflict and will not provide support to Israel.
The sources further said that Iran has made it clear that any form of US support to Israel in military action against Iran would be viewed as a violation of the agreement, effectively rendering the peace deal null and void.
Sources also said that Iran’s ballistic missile programme remains a red line for Tehran and is not part of the MoU. The issue, according to the sources, will not be included in the final agreement either.
This is a key condition because Israel and the United States, while justifying their strikes on Iran, have repeatedly argued that Iran’s ballistic missile programme poses a threat to regional stability and should be dismantled.
Sources told CNBC-TV18 that discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, however, are expected to continue under a 60-day framework.
The broader agreement was announced earlier by Trump, who said on Truth Social that Washington and Tehran had completed a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and remove the US naval blockade.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote, adding that the agreement would bring “Peace and Security to the whole Region”. Iranian officials have also confirmed the development.
The MoU is scheduled to be signed on June 19.
