The Lebanese newspaper Nidaa al-Watan reported Wednesday morning that the ceasefire monitoring cell will consist of Lebanon, the US, and Iran, while Qatar and Pakistan will fulfill a supporting and tracking role.
The report also noted that the cell will likely be military rather than diplomatic, focusing on military matters. Concurrently, US assurances were transferred to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that the Lebanese track will remain separate from the Iranian track. The assurances emphasized that Lebanon is the only party authorized to conduct negotiations, without the possibility of handing the Lebanese file over to Tehran. The report claimed that an American effort is underway to free Lebanon from Iranian control.
Meanwhile, an American source told the Saudi network Al-Arabiya that Israel has requested that the Lebanese Armed Forces deploy along the Ali al-Taher ridge before any withdrawal from the region in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the source said that Israel seeks to conduct searches in Hezbollah tunnels along the ridge to ensure no terrorists from the terror organization remain inside them. According to the source, Israel demands that the Lebanese Armed Forces execute steps on the ground before any withdrawal, proving an ability to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.
The Lebanon coordination cell, established in Switzerland as part of US–Iran talks, is a new diplomatic mechanism designed to prevent military friction in Lebanon and guarantee the cessation of hostilities. Tehran has celebrated its inclusion in the cell as an achievement, with the news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps declaring, "Iran has become part of the security architecture in Lebanon."
In Israel, officials stated that the cell "does not manage the forces on the ground" and that they are not connected to it. However, Israel warned the Americans that linking the agreement with Iran to Lebanon would lead to escalation, and that Iran would initiate attacks to blow up the direct contacts between Israel and Lebanon.
Within the US administration itself, a dispute has emerged. The State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio fiercely opposed the establishment of the cell, arguing it represents a bypass track designed to torpedo direct negotiations. Vice President JD Vance, who managed the talks, evaded a direct answer regarding an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanon is demanding compensation from Iran. Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Tuesday evening in an interview with the Arabic network Sky News that "Lebanon has the right to prepare a dossier of demands for compensation from Iran for all damages caused to the state as a result of the training, arming, and funding of a military organization operating under its command [Hezbollah]."
According to Nassar, the understandings reached between the US and Iran will not make Lebanon a party to them, but they include clauses that serve its interests, particularly those regarding the cessation of fighting and respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.
Regarding the issue of Hezbollah's weapons, the Lebanese Justice Minister declared that past justifications for keeping the weapons are no longer valid. According to Nassar, the Lebanese Armed Forces are capable of executing the missions assigned to them by the authorities.
