Report: Lebanon remains part of US-Iranian discussions

The issue of the Israeli war against Lebanon remains a key topic in the U.S.-Iranian contacts and separating the Lebanese file from the Islamabad talks does not appear to be certain, informed sources told al-Akhbar newspaper.

"This issue continues to exert pressure on the American side, which is attempting to expedite direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel while preventing Iranian interference. However, Tehran has informed the Pakistani mediators that the current situation in Lebanon does not constitute a ceasefire, but rather a unilateral truce, and that the matter will not be resolved until a comprehensive ceasefire is declared and the occupying forces withdraw immediately from Lebanese territory," the sources said.

The sources added that there are voices within the U.S. administration advocating for resolving the Lebanese issue within the framework of negotiations with Iran to ensure that fighting does not resume.

"U.S. intelligence has alerted White House officials to the fact that Hezbollah is preparing to resume its attacks against Israeli forces, not exclusively within Lebanese territory, and that Israel's extensive destruction operations in border villages threaten to undermine the entire settlement," the daily said.

"The ongoing deliberations by the team supporting Israel in Washington are focused on preparing a multi-stage working paper. The first stage stipulates a declaration of a cessation of all hostilities, in exchange for Lebanon launching an executive action plan that would completely restrict weapons in southern Lebanon, with a pledge from Hezbollah not to launch attacks on Israel," the daily added.

The second stage would begin immediately with an Israeli withdrawal from the areas that the occupation forces entered after March 2, a return to the previous five points and the release of Lebanese captives.

"The file of demarcating the land border would be left until the two sides reach a security agreement, which would stipulate that Lebanon would take measures that do not impose disarmament by force, but would rather 'freeze' the weapons according to the Egyptian initiative, amid an initial discussion on the necessity of a Lebanese-international mechanism to monitor the 'weapons freeze' process," the newspaper said.