June 24, 2026
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-US peace talks, as the top US diplomat tours the West Asia to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
The United States and Iran signed an initial accord last week to end a war that has upended the West Asia and pressured global economies since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Conflicting accounts have emerged over elements of the deal, which has prompted criticism of US President Donald Trump at home and in the West Asia. Financial incentives for Iran, control of the Strait of Hormuz and Israel's parallel war in Lebanon have all been disputed, highlighting the fragility of the accord.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, have repeatedly said they will not pull troops out of southern Lebanon, where they say they have created a security zone to protect residents of northern Israel.
