Iran demands Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as condition for US peace deal; Trump criticises Netanyahu

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that a peace agreement with the United States would be contingent on Israel withdrawing from Lebanese territories occupied during the conflict, signalling a key precondition for resolving the broader Middle East crisis. Hezbollah officials confirmed they had received assurances from Iran that it would press for Israeli troop withdrawal in upcoming negotiations with the US.

Donald Trump, speaking at the G7 summit in Évian, France, publicly criticised his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu over military operations in Lebanon. Trump described recent Israeli bombing attacks on Beirut as "vicious" and expressed frustration with the prolonged conflict, stating that Israel had been fighting Hezbollah "too long" with excessive civilian casualties. He specifically objected to an Israeli airstrike on Beirut that occurred just two hours before Iran was scheduled to sign a memorandum with the US. Trump suggested the Syrian government might handle Hezbollah more effectively, though he maintained he had an "unbelievable personal relationship" with Netanyahu.

The escalating tensions underscore Trump's apparent impatience with Israel's refusal to accept a ceasefire, which threatens a 60-day truce he negotiated with Iran. Trump emphasised his centrality to US-Israel relations, stating "Without the US, without me, there would be no Israel." Israeli drone strikes in Lebanon continued during this period, killing at least four people including in a "double-tap" attack in Mayfadoun village.

European leaders attending the G7 expressed concern about the peace deal's durability given Israel's military activities. Gulf states and the US vice-president JD Vance discussed proposals for Arab investment of up to $300 billion in Iran's economy as an incentive for nuclear disarmament. European nations, which participated in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been excluded from both the conflict and current negotiations. They are pushing for greater involvement in forthcoming talks and seeking clarity on the 14-clause memorandum of understanding, which addresses reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting nuclear programme discussions. French President Emmanuel Macron called for specific restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile programme.