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Iran Wants Lebanon Included in Any Ceasefire, Sources Say
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 25, 2026
4 min readLast updated: March 25, 2026
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Iran is pressing that any U.S.–Israel ceasefire deal must also include an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, tying the regional ceasefire explicitly to Lebanon’s inclusion.
Iran Seeks Lebanon's Inclusion in US-Israel Ceasefire Agreement
Iran's Position on Lebanon and the Ceasefire Negotiations
By Samia Nakhoul, Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily
BEIRUT, March 25 (Reuters) - Iran has told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the United States and Israel, six regional sources familiar with Iran's position said, linking an end of the war to a halt to Israel's offensive against Hezbollah.
Iran's Press TV on Wednesday cited an Iranian official saying Tehran wanted any deal with the United States to secure an end to the war both on Iran and other "resistance groups" in the region.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Tehran was still reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the regional war raging for nearly a month, indicating that Tehran had so far stopped short of rejecting it outright.
The six regional sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Tehran had informed mediators as early as mid-March that it sought a deal that would also stop Israel's attacks on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's Role and Iran's Regional Strategy
Hezbollah was founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 and is widely seen as the spearhead of Iran's regional alliance of armed actors. It opened fire on Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Tehran, triggering an Israeli air and ground campaign in Lebanon.
There was no immediate response from Iran's foreign ministry, Israel's foreign ministry or the Israeli military to questions from Reuters on the matter.
A senior Trump administration official said ending Iran's "proxy activities" and disarming Hezbollah were "crucial to ensuring peace and stability in Lebanon and across the region."
'Iranian Guarantees' and Political Implications
'IRANIAN GUARANTEES'
One of the regional sources told Reuters that Hezbollah had received "Iranian guarantees" on its inclusion in any wider deal.
"Iran is prioritizing Lebanon - it will not accept Israeli violations in Lebanon like what happened after the 2024 ceasefire," the source said, referring to Israel's continued strikes on Lebanon despite a 2024 truce that ended the last Hezbollah-Israel war.
Such a link would reaffirm Tehran's ties to Hezbollah at a time of political turmoil in Beirut, where the Shi'ite Muslim group's decision to enter the war has sharpened long-standing tensions with other sectarian factions.
Hezbollah's Changing Influence in Lebanon
Hezbollah was long a dominant force in the Lebanese state. But its influence waned dramatically after the group was pummelled by Israel in 2024 and a new government in Lebanon made unprecedented demands for it to disarm and banned its military activities.
Lebanon's foreign ministry on Tuesday declared the appointed Iranian ambassador persona non grata. Hezbollah and other leading Shi'ite Muslim figures in the country condemned the move and said the envoy should stay.
A foreign official in Beirut familiar with Hezbollah's position said the group hoped an Iran-backed truce would help it bolster its political position in Lebanon.
Hezbollah's Calculations and the Prospects for Ceasefire
Israel's Stance and Military Actions
HEZBOLLAH COUNTED ON JOINT CEASEFIRE
Israel's foreign ministry has said that “Israel has not conducted and does not conduct negotiations with the Iranian terror regime.”
A source briefed on Israel's military strategy has said Israeli attacks on Hezbollah would likely continue after the air war with Iran, describing the two fronts as unconnected.
Impact on Lebanon and Humanitarian Consequences
Hezbollah's calculations in joining the conflict were based on Iran's clerical leadership surviving the war and a regional ceasefire that would include the Lebanese group, according to four Lebanese sources.
Israeli strikes since March 2 have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million, Lebanese authorities say.
(Additional reporting by Rami Ayyub and Emily Rose in Jerusalem; Writing by Tom Perry and Maya Gebeily; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Key Takeaways
- •Iran demands Lebanon’s inclusion in any ceasefire, linking war’s end to halting Israel’s offensive on Hezbollah.
- •Iran offered its own counterproposal, rejecting the U.S. plan, and backed Hezbollah with “Iranian guarantees.”(apnews.com)
- •Despite the Nov 27, 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire, Israeli strikes continued for over a year, undermining its durability.(en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Iran wants Lebanon included in any ceasefire, sources say
1What conditions is Iran demanding for a regional ceasefire?
Iran insists that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire agreement with the US and Israel, linking an end of the war to a halt in Israeli attacks on Hezbollah.
2Why is Lebanon significant in Iran's ceasefire negotiations?
Iran views Hezbollah as a key ally and seeks guarantees for its protection by including Lebanon in any regional ceasefire deal.
3How has Hezbollah responded to Iran's guarantees?
Hezbollah has reportedly received 'Iranian guarantees' for its inclusion in any ceasefire agreement and hopes this will strengthen its position in Lebanon.
4What has been the impact of the conflict on Lebanon?
Since March 2, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over a million in Lebanon, according to authorities.
5What is Israel's stance on negotiations involving Iran and Hezbollah?
Israel states it does not negotiate with Iran and considers its military actions against Hezbollah unconnected to broader ceasefire talks.
