US-Iran MoU Continues, Special Unit Formed to Prevent Escalation in Lebanon

The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to form a deconfliction cell as part of efforts to ease tensions and end conflicts in several regions, including Lebanon. The establishment of the unit was announced through a joint statement delivered by Qatar and Pakistan, the two countries acting as mediators in the negotiation process between Washington and Tehran. According to the statement, the new mechanism will involve the relevant parties, the Lebanese government, and be facilitated by the two mediating countries to ensure the implementation of the cessation of military operations in accordance with the agreement reached. “The parties agreed to create a deconfliction cell, comprising the parties, the Republic of Lebanon, and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure compliance with the cessation of military operations in Lebanon in accordance with the MoU,” the joint statement from the mediators said. The formation of the deconfliction cell is a follow-up step after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last week. The agreement was designed as an initial framework to end the conflict and reduce tensions involving both countries in the Middle East region. One of the key points in the MoU is the cessation of fighting on various conflict fronts, including in Lebanon, which in recent months has become a hotspot in the region. However, the situation in Lebanon remains far from stable. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues despite various ceasefire efforts. Data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health shows more than 4,000 people have been killed due to attacks by Israeli forces since 2 March. Lebanon’s involvement in the regional conflict has increased after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran at the end of February. The operation resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response to Khamenei’s death, Hezbollah launched a series of attacks against Israel. The group has long been known as a close ally of Iran and receives support in the form of weaponry and other assistance from Tehran. The conflict involving Hezbollah is also a sensitive issue in talks between the United States and Iran. For Tehran, halting Israeli attacks against the group, which it considers a strategic ally in the region, is a primary demand in any negotiation process. On the other hand, Israel holds a different view. The Israeli government considers Hezbollah a direct threat to its national security and believes the group must be neutralised. This divergence of interests is one of the biggest challenges in implementing the memorandum of understanding agreed upon by Washington and Tehran. Nevertheless, the establishment of the deconfliction cell is hoped to serve as a mechanism to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire and prevent new escalations in Lebanon. This step is also seen as an initial test of the effectiveness of the US-Iran MoU in de-escalating conflicts that have involved various regional actors in the Middle East.