Iran Agreement: Ben-Gvir and Smotrich Criticize It While Katz Insists on Maintaining Israeli Positions in Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel will not withdraw from the territories it currently controls in Lebanon following the agreement reached between the United States and Iran.

In a statement issued on Monday, Katz warned that if Iran launches an attack against Israel in connection with developments in Lebanon, Israel will respond in kind.

His remarks came after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending the war across multiple fronts in the Middle East, including Lebanon, stressing that Israel is not bound by its provisions.

The far-right minister wrote on his Telegram channel: “Trump’s agreement does not bind us in any way. We are not a party to it, and it does not guarantee our security.”

He added: “We should accept nothing less than the dismantling of Hezbollah. Nor should we withdraw from a single inch of territory that our soldiers have captured and cleared of terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich likewise stated that any Iranian attack would be met with an Israeli response in Lebanon, while arguing that decisions regarding the handling of Iran remain primarily within the authority of the President of the United States.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced on Sunday that a peace agreement had been reached between the United States and Iran.

In a post on the social media platform X, Sharif stated: “Following intensive negotiations, we are pleased to announce that a peace agreement has been reached between the United States of America and Iran.”

He added: “The two parties have declared an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. The official signing ceremony will take place on June 19 in Switzerland.”

Sharif further noted that, with the agreement entering into force, mediators will facilitate a series of meetings throughout the week, with these preliminary discussions laying the groundwork for technical negotiations and the formal signing ceremony.