The announcement marks the most definitive statement yet from Tehran on the end of a conflict that began on 28 February, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
“In our view, the two parties to this memorandum are the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other,” Araghchi said.
“The declaration of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, is perhaps the most important issue in the memorandum.”
He added: “Ending the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the complete end of the war. These two fronts, Iran and Lebanon, are quite connected to each other.”
Araghchi issued a direct warning to Israel, saying any continued military presence in Lebanese territory or fresh strikes on Lebanon from this point forward would be treated as a breach of the agreement.
“Any continued Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories from now on and any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on will be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding in our view,” he said.
The foreign minister said upcoming negotiations with the United States would be broken into two stages.
The first would cover the status of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the United States naval blockade, and reconstruction after the bombardment of Iran’s infrastructure.
A second, later stage would address Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief as part of a final agreement.
Araghchi said the signing of the memorandum would result in an immediate pause in fighting, but stressed that Iran and Oman would continue to administer the Strait of Hormuz.
The question of lifting foreign sanctions against Iran and unfreezing the country’s assets would be taken up after the memorandum is signed.
The formal signing of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States is scheduled to take place in Switzerland on Friday.
The deal, if concluded, would end more than three and a half months of conflict that set the Middle East ablaze, disrupted global energy markets and brought the Strait of Hormuz through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas trade passes to near closure.
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