Khamenei ties US-Iran peace deal to Israel ending attacks on Lebanon

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated on X that peace between Tehran and Washington is conditional on Israel ceasing its attacks on Lebanon. He emphasized that Iran considers the “absolute, unconditional termination of the Zionist regime’s aggression as the primary condition for any agreement to ending the imposed war against the aggressive US.” Khamenei also expressed support for Hezbollah and the people of southern Lebanon, calling the defense of Hezbollah “its strategic mandate.” This declaration follows reports of renewed diplomacy between Iran and the US, despite a previous memorandum of understanding collapsing over a dispute regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict in March after Hezbollah launched strikes on northern Israel, citing the killing of then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Israel’s bombardments of Lebanese territory.