Iran has cast doubt on the United States' commitment to a prospective peace agreement following a series of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, raising concerns about the timing and prospects of a framework deal aimed at ending hostilities between Tehran and Washington.
The proposed agreement, expected to be signed on Sunday, June 15, was brokered with Pakistan's mediation and announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing, with technical-level discussions planned to continue in the days following. However, Iranian officials expressed reservations regarding the timeline. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei indicated the deal would not be finalized on Sunday but remained possible in the near future. Furthermore, Fars news agency reported that Tehran had yet to make a definitive decision on the framework, citing ongoing political, legal, and technical reviews by experts and decision-makers.
Tensions escalated on Sunday when Israel carried out airstrikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, which the Israeli military identified as Hezbollah positions. The Lebanese civil defense reported the attack resulted in three fatalities. Earlier, Hezbollah allegedly fired three projectiles toward northern Israeli communities in contravention of a ceasefire agreement. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted Israel's right to maintain freedom of operations in Lebanon, a stance that has reportedly caused friction with Washington, which has sought to limit Israeli military activity to facilitate negotiations with Iran.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf publicly criticized the United States on social media, stating that the Israeli strikes revealed a lack of U.S. will or capability to uphold its commitments under the proposed agreement. Mohammad Jafar Assadi, deputy commander of Iran’s top joint military command, vowed that the "crimes" committed by Israel in Beirut would not go unanswered.
The broader conflict has intensified since late February when the U.S. and Israel launched military actions targeting Iran, leading to sustained confrontations involving Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has retaliated with strikes against Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases and has imposed an effective blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for global oil shipments. These developments have contributed to rising global energy prices. In turn, the U.S. Navy has enforced restrictions on Iranian ports.
An unnamed diplomat involved in the talks, as cited by media, suggested that the Israeli strikes are complicating efforts to finalize the deal and may represent an attempt to sabotage the peace process. Israel has not issued an immediate response to this assertion.
According to a senior Iranian official, the draft agreement includes provisions for the United States to release approximately $25 billion of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran's commitment to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.
As negotiations continue, the interplay of military actions and diplomatic efforts underscores the complex challenges ahead for achieving a durable resolution between the involved parties.