Khamenei links US-Iran peace talks to Israel ending attacks on Lebanon

What happened

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a post on X that peace between Tehran and Washington depends on 'the absolute, unconditional termination' of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. He described preserving Lebanon’s territorial integrity and ending Israeli aggression as primary conditions for resolving the war imposed by the US, while voicing support for Hezbollah, its leadership, and southern Lebanon’s population, the main target of Israeli strikes.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Khamenei’s remarks come amid a reported pause in attacks and attempts at diplomacy between Iran and the US, following a June memorandum of understanding that has since collapsed over disputes including the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement included a US-mediated framework for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories but has faced rejection by Iran and Hezbollah, with Israeli forces reportedly obstructing withdrawal from designated “pilot zones.”

Lebanon has seen intensified conflict since March after Hezbollah launched strikes into northern Israel, citing Israeli bombardments of Lebanese territory and the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, events that Hezbollah claims violated a ceasefire from 2024. The Lebanese army reported Israel’s refusal to withdraw from agreed zones while continuing military operations in southern Lebanon. The United Nations peacekeepers note Israel has violated a previous ceasefire with Hezbollah more than 10,000 times.

Known from the source

• Mojtaba Khamenei is Iran’s Supreme Leader and son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
• He stated on X that peace between Iran and the US depends on Israel stopping attacks on Lebanon.
• Iran supports Hezbollah and southern Lebanon as a strategic priority.
• A June US-mediated agreement outlined phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories contingent on Hezbollah’s disarmament.
• Israel is reportedly obstructing withdrawal from designated pilot zones in southern Lebanon as of late July 2026.

What remains unclear

Casualty figures included in the source report over 4,300 deaths in the current violence in Lebanon, alongside Israeli military and civilian deaths, though figures remain subject to verification. The conflict also has broader regional implications as hostilities have expanded into Yemen, with reported exchanges between Houthis and Saudi forces.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact casualty figures and their sources. Official status and terms of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Verification of Israeli military obstruction of withdrawal in pilot zones.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Lebanon. Open the source.