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Lebanon Inference

The deal has a hole shaped like Lebanon

Iran wants Lebanon's war ended as part of the deal. Israel — which isn't even at the table — says it won't stop and won't pull back. That gap is where a weekend signature could die.

The US–Iran deal has a hole shaped like Lebanon. Iran insists any agreement must also end the fighting there, and a Hezbollah politician said he was confident Iran was negotiating "including the file of Lebanon." [E1] But Israel isn't a party to the deal, and says it'll keep striking and won't leave the Lebanese ground it holds. Two sides with opposite demands for the same agreement — and one of them isn't in the room.

The shooting hasn't slowed for the talks. Israeli airstrikes killed 13 people in south Lebanon on 10 June, part of a campaign Lebanese authorities say has killed nearly 3,700 since early March. [E2] Lebanon's defence ministry counted 3,491 Israeli airstrikes between 17 April and 7 June — during what's nominally a ceasefire. [E3] A deal that reopens Hormuz but leaves this running hasn't ended the war. It's just moved it.

So Lebanon is the likeliest place a signature slips. The logic is simple: Iran and Hezbollah think Lebanon is inside the deal, Israel thinks it's outside and is acting like it, and one fresh strike or rocket gives either side a reason to walk. If the weekend's optimism cracks, watch this seam first.

The Record · Provenance for this story
E1 ↩ Reuters A Hezbollah politician says the movement is confident Iran is negotiating "including the file of Lebanon"; Israel says it will not withdraw from security zones. 12 Jun
source
E2 ↩ Reuters Israeli airstrikes killed 13 in south Lebanon on 10 June; nearly 3,700 killed since 2 March, per Lebanese figures. 10 Jun
source
E3 ↩ Reuters Lebanon's defense ministry reported 3,491 Israeli airstrikes between 17 April and 7 June, during a nominal ceasefire. 8 Jun
source
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