Israel-Lebanon talks resume as Beirut files UN complaint against Iran
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Lebanon’s government has filed a strongly worded complaint with the United Nations, alleging that the Islamic Republic of Iran abused diplomatic immunity by refusing to recall its ambassador and stop alleged terrorist activities on its territory after Beirut demanded his expulsion, according to a letter that emerged in late April.
The disclosure of the letter, reportedly a precedent-setting move by Lebanon, came on the second day of talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon to normalize relations (the countries are at war) and dismantle the Iranian regime-backed Hezbollah terrorist movement in Lebanon.
A US State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday: “The United States facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon and they resumed today and are continuing. The atmosphere of the talks was very positive, even exceeding expectations.”
FAMILY OF AMERICAN HOSTAGES WHO WERE TORTURED IN LEBANON WON THE BREAKING LAWSUIT AGAINST IRAN
A mourner carries a portrait of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral on March 5, 2026, for members of Iraq’s pro-Iran paramilitary group Kataeb Hezbollah who were killed in an attack in Baghdad the previous day. (Ahmed Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote on
“In addition, a security hotline will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with the participation of military delegations from both countries. We hope that these talks will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of real security along the common borders.”
Potentially game-changing situation as parties report to their capitals letter Lebanon’s UN Ambassador Ahmed Arafa’s harsh criticism of Iran for letting terrorists allegedly belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into Lebanon “under the guise of diplomatic activity” gave hope to critics of Iran and Hezbollah.
According to the letter, Arafa said Iran “committed unlawful actions in clear contravention of the decisions of the Lebanese Government.” He continued: “Iran’s behavior constitutes a direct and blatant interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs and is dragging the country into a war in which it chose not to become involved.”
Michael Needham, U.S. State Department advisor, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter pose for a photo before a meeting at the State Department on April 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The United States and the European Union have classified the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
The letter took Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, to task for “blatant interference” in Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s UN letter, Beirut argued that Iran was violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
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Iranian protesters hold flowers in front of a large banner of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during a protest in Tehran on September 30, 2024, condemning the Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut and the killing of Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander General Abbas Nilforushan. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)
When asked about details of the letter, a spokesman for Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States declined to comment. The spokesman also declined to comment on ongoing talks with Israel in Washington.
Walid Phares, one of the leading US experts on Lebanon and the Middle East, told Fox News Digital: “Many people viewed Lebanon’s memo to the UN as the beginning of a change in attitude of the Lebanese government towards Iran and a sign that Beirut would escalate tensions. The tone and narrative of the letter gives people the feeling that the government has a resistance against Iran and the reality of Hezbollah is still less.”
He added: “The subject of the latest discussion is the change of legal status regarding the presence of Iranians on Lebanese territory. The Lebanese government decided not to grant automatic visa exemptions to Iran, the government and private citizens, which upset Iran and Hezbollah. Tehran is also angry that the Lebanese government did not assist in the elimination of a number of Revolutionary Guard members killed by Israel in Lebanon. Tehran blames the Lebanese foreign ministry, especially the foreign minister. Youssef Raggi, ‘Due to decreased solidarity with Iran’.’
Smoke rises from Israeli air strikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on April 5, 2026. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)
According to Phares, “Raggi represents a Lebanese Christian bloc in the parliament that does not sympathize with the regime. However, the actual talks in DC are intended by the Lebanese government to show the Trump administration that ‘the state wants to talk’, but not to reach an agreement that would trigger the wrath of Hezbollah. The leaders of the Lebanese state are not yet where the USA and Israel expect.”
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A regional official with knowledge of the UN dispute told Fox News Digital: Lebanon “argued that Iran did not provide the Lebanese foreign ministry with a list of all Iranians and details of where they were staying. That is why Israel targeted the hotel in Lebanon where six people were killed, which is true.”
“Iran had not told the Lebanese foreign ministry about these six people,” the official said.
