A potential agreement between Washington and Tehran is rapidly taking shape, with President Donald Trump claiming it will be signed as early as Sunday and that Iran has abandoned its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Israeli security sources have confirmed that the military is preparing to halt ground operations in southern Lebanon as part of the emerging deal, though they insist there will be no withdrawal from the so-called security zone. The Israeli army has reportedly been told to ready itself for a political decision to stop advancing, with military circles describing the current moment as potentially decisive for the scope of future operations.

From the Israeli perspective, the calculus is clear: the agreement with Iran is expected to constrain military freedom of action in Lebanon. Security sources told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that while ground operations may cease, the presence of troops in the security zone will be a matter for future negotiations, likely to take place in the United States within two weeks. This stance reflects a broader Israeli strategy of maintaining leverage even as diplomatic momentum builds. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to strike Hezbollah targets, announcing on Saturday the elimination of seven operatives in southern Lebanon, including the destruction of an underground weapons storage site.

In Tehran, the narrative is more cautious. Iranian officials have indicated that any agreement would include Lebanon and that support for Hezbollah will not be abandoned. However, domestic criticism has emerged, with Fars news agency questioning Foreign Minister Araghchi's failure to respond to Trump's claims. The Iranian foreign minister has stated that the deal covers Lebanon and that Iran will not abandon Hezbollah, suggesting a delicate balancing act between diplomatic engagement and maintaining regional influence.

Viewed from Washington, Trump has framed the agreement as a stark departure from the Obama-era nuclear deal, which he described as a smooth path to an Iranian bomb. He has boasted of a vastly improved relationship with Iran and hinted at future access to Iranian nuclear sites, claiming the US will eventually extract nuclear dust buried deep underground. The deal's implications for Lebanon are significant: it appears to link a halt to Israeli ground operations with broader US-Iranian rapprochement, potentially reshaping the regional landscape. Analysts in London note that the agreement could provide a framework for de-escalation, but its success hinges on resolving the status of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's future role. As the Sunday deadline approaches, the region watches for signs of a breakthrough that could redefine the contours of conflict and diplomacy in the Middle East.