'Bibi is hysterical about it': How US-Iran understanding is rattling Israel over Lebanon

In Lebanon and Israel on 23 June 2026, talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland and talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington were both in the news. Israel prepared for a possible US demand to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Ghalibaf said the Swiss talks helped prevent more bloodshed in Lebanon, and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Dar said Israeli attacks on Lebanon nearly derailed the US-Iran talks. An Israeli minister said Israel is not a party to the US-Iran talks and will continue full operations in Lebanon, and Israel tied any withdrawal from southern Lebanon to prior steps on the ground.

As talks began in Washington, Lebanon's president said Beirut would accept ‘nothing less’ than an Israeli withdrawal and rejected occupation and foreign interference. Rubio said the US would deal with Lebanon directly and that Lebanon is outside the Iran agreement. Israel's US envoy warned the talks could ‘go off the rails’, and said Hezbollah benefits from Iranian funding. Hezbollah's chief demanded a full, timetabled Israeli withdrawal, and Lebanese leaders urged action against Iranian interference.