Live Updates: Iran says deal with U.S. requires Israeli forces to leave Lebanon

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, confirmed Tuesday that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports and vessels had been lifted ahead of Friday’s planned signing of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran at Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort. The agreement aims to formalize a ceasefire and trigger a second phase of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and other disputes. Takht-Ravanchi stated the blockade’s removal was a precondition emphasized by Iran from the start, though the Joint Maritime Information Center had earlier said it would remain in place until Friday pending the ceasefire’s execution. President Donald Trump had announced on Truth Social Sunday that he was authorizing the blockade’s immediate removal, but tensions persist over its enforcement. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister insisted that any Israeli forces remaining in southern Lebanon or conducting strikes would violate the U.S.-Iran deal. Israeli officials rejected this, stating Trump’s agreement does not bind them, with troops expected to stay in Lebanon. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, and Iran’s Abbas Araghchi discussed the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming their commitment to international law and safe passage for maritime traffic. The two nations have been collaborating to establish a new system for managing commercial shipping through the vital waterway, though Iran has accused vessels of paying fees for transit. Before the U.S.-Israel war began on February 28, the strait operated freely as an international waterway, but Trump told *The New York Times* the deal would ensure it remains permanently toll-free. The signing ceremony in Switzerland marks a critical step toward de-escalation, with Iran and the U.S. set to begin a 60-day negotiation period following the memorandum’s formalization. The agreement’s success hinges on Israel’s compliance with Iranian demands regarding troop withdrawals and strikes, as well as broader regional stability efforts led by Oman and Iran.