Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said ending the war in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets are inseparable parts of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement [1, 2].
This linkage connects a regional military conflict with high-stakes financial diplomacy. By tying the ceasefire in Lebanon to the return of its assets, Tehran is attempting to ensure that the U.S. leverages its influence to secure a lasting end to hostilities involving Israel.
Baghaei said that the United States is committed to releasing frozen Iranian assets as part of the framework [1, 2]. He said the cessation of the war in Lebanon is an "inseparable" part of the deal [1].
According to Baghaei, the release of these assets and the end of the conflict are key components that must be addressed together to secure broader regional peace [1, 2]. The Iranian government views these requirements as essential to ensuring that Israel complies with the terms of the agreement [2, 3].
Tehran has long sought the return of billions of dollars in assets frozen by U.S. sanctions. By integrating these financial demands with a demand for peace in Lebanon, Iran is positioning the U.S. as the primary guarantor of the ceasefire's success [2, 4].
Baghaei said the agreement depends on these interconnected elements being fulfilled [1]. The spokesperson said the peace process cannot be decoupled from the reality of the conflict in Lebanon [1, 2].
“Ending the war in Lebanon is an ‘inseparable’ part of the US‑Iran agreement.”
This strategy indicates that Iran is utilizing its frozen financial assets as leverage to force a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon. By making the peace deal conditional on a ceasefire, Tehran is shifting the burden of Israeli compliance onto the U.S. government, effectively turning a bilateral financial dispute into a multilateral security guarantee.
