Iran demands Lebanon ceasefire and US fund release before final deal talks

Iran has stated that talks on a final agreement will not commence until hostilities in Lebanon cease and the United States releases frozen Iranian funds. In a statement issued by Tehran’s foreign ministry, officials emphasized that the conditions for a comprehensive deal—whether it concerns the Gaza conflict or broader regional stability—cannot be met while violence persists in the Bekaa Valley and the Lebanese border region. The Iranian government also urged the U.S. to lift sanctions that have frozen Iranian assets, arguing that the financial constraints undermine diplomatic progress.

The call comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with sporadic exchanges of fire along the Israel‑Lebanon frontier. Meanwhile, the U.S. has maintained a policy of restricting Iranian financial assets in response to the country’s nuclear program and regional activities. Tehran’s demand for the release of frozen funds is part of a broader strategy to leverage economic pressure as a precondition for negotiations, while insisting that military hostilities be halted as a prerequisite for any substantive diplomatic engagement.