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Washington/Tehran: A major controversy has arisen amid hopes for peace in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has made it clear that Lebanon is not included in the proposed ceasefire talks with Iran. This statement of Trump is completely contrary to the claims which were being made by Iran and Pakistan, which was playing the role of mediator in this agreement. After the Pentagon briefing, Trump insisted that Israeli military operations in Lebanon were outside the scope of the agreement and were excluded because of Hezbollah’s activities.
Trump’s blunt answer: No deal for Lebanon
President Trump clarified that he considers the ongoing conflict in Lebanon to be a ‘separate conflict’. “We have received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which is a practical basis for negotiations, but Lebanon is not included in this ceasefire deal,” he said. This stance of Trump has also been supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s office has made it clear that Israel is in favor of stopping direct conflict with Iran, but its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue.
Iran’s warning: ‘Agreement canceled if Lebanon is attacked’
Iran has expressed strong objection to this stance of America. Tehran officials say their 10-point peace proposal includes a halt to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and guarantees that Iran will not be attacked again. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a stern tone, “America will have to choose between a ceasefire or war through Israel.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also warned that if attacks on Lebanon do not stop, they may withdraw from the agreement and retaliate.
Confusion created by Pakistan’s statement
Pakistan’s role in this entire controversy has added ‘ghee to the fire’. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly announced that the ceasefire would apply to “the entire region including Lebanon”. The Iranian Foreign Minister has cornered America by sharing a screenshot of this statement of Sharif. Now that Washington and Tel Aviv have rejected this claim, question marks have been raised over Pakistan’s credibility and the future of the agreement.
The root of the crisis: one compromise, two different explanations
At present the situation is that no final agreement has been signed. While Washington is considering it only as a means to reduce tension between Iran and America, Iran and Pakistan are seeing it as a comprehensive peace plan for the entire Middle East. Lebanon has now become the main root of this dispute. If Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue in the coming days, the nascent ceasefire agreement could collapse even before it is formally launched.