Iran ready to advance diplomatic ties with US pending Israel’s restraint in Lebanon

Iran’s deputy foreign minister signals openness to negotiations, urging Washington to pressure Israel into halting strikes in Lebanon.

Published On 19 Jun 202619 Jun 2026

Iran’s deputy foreign minister reiterated Tehran’s willingness to pursue diplomatic engagement with Washington, contingent on the United States demonstrating respect for the bilateral agreement and ensuring Israel adheres to its memorandum of understanding.

“We are prepared to move forward step by step, provided the other party exhibits comparable seriousness,” Saeed Khatibzadeh stated to Al Jazeera Arabic during a Friday interview.

His remarks followed the cancellation of scheduled US‑Iran talks in Switzerland and the vice‑president’s postponed visit.

Earlier, Pakistani and Qatari officials — acting as mediators — indicated that the two sides were prepared to convene in Burgenstock to discuss a range of issues outlined in the recent MoU between the United States and Iran.

Reports suggested the talks were aborted after intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which resulted in at least 47 fatalities reported by Lebanon’s health ministry since midnight.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Khatibzadeh condemned the latest Israeli strikes in Lebanon, warning that Israel’s “continued war‑making” would have “serious and immediate consequences.”

He emphasized Iran’s pursuit of “peace on all fronts, including Gaza,” noting that Lebanon’s inclusion in the MoU stems from its direct link to the conflict.

Article 1 of the MoU explicitly identifies the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon as an essential component of the broader cease‑fire framework across all fronts.

“There can be no peace or stability in Lebanon and the region without ending the occupation and Israel’s commitment to international law,” Khatibzadeh added.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he affirmed that Iran will continue to provide navigation services in coordination with Oman and in line with international law.

Iran will refrain from imposing passage fees during the 60‑day period stipulated by the agreement, though a new mechanism for managing the waterway will be introduced afterward and presented to regional partners.

Any future accord, Khatibzadeh said, must include the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicated on Friday that consultations concerning the US‑Iran deal are being conducted via mediators, and that an official announcement will follow if the conditions for negotiations are met.

On the cease‑fire required for substantive talks, a Hezbollah official told Al Jazeera that the truce would hold provided Israel respects its terms.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, posted on X: “Israel remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire. If Hezbollah honors the agreement and ceases its hostilities, they will be met with quiet.”

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