TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that securing a ceasefire in Lebanon is one of the main conditions for ending the wider conflict in the Middle East.
According to Iran’s news agency, Pezeshkian made the remarks during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. The Iranian president said Tehran’s acceptance of the recent ceasefire with the United States showed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy and regional stability.
Pezeshkian stated that a Lebanon ceasefire is part of Iran’s 10-point plan aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war. He said the Islamic Republic considers peace in Lebanon essential to preventing further violence across the region.
“Iran’s acceptance of the ceasefire is a clear sign of responsibility and serious will to resolve conflicts through diplomacy,” Pezeshkian said during the call with Macron.
The statement comes after a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect late Tuesday. However, the truce does not include Lebanon, where fighting continues between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel remains ready to confront Iran again if necessary despite the current pause in fighting.
In a televised address, Netanyahu said Israel still has military objectives to complete and would achieve them either through an agreement or renewed combat.
“We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger remains on the trigger,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also argued that Iran had been weakened by the recent conflict and defended his decision to support the temporary ceasefire with the United States.
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump will continue discussions with Netanyahu about the possibility of expanding the ceasefire to include Lebanon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the issue would remain under discussion between the United States, Israel and other parties involved.
Lebanon became part of the conflict after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Iran, raising fears that the war could spread further across the Middle East.
