April 8, 2026
Vance says there is ‘misunderstanding’ about Lebanon being part of ceasefire deal
US Vice President JD Vance has said that the Iranian side of the talks thought that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement was the result of a “misunderstanding”.
While supporting Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s election campaign in Hungary, he told reporters, “I think it comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it didn’t.”
His comments follow the line set by Trump, the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but contrast with statements from Iran as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was the key broker who secured the ceasefire agreement at the last minute.
Vance also said Israel had agreed to exercise restraint, even after carrying out its largest attack since March 2, which killed more than 180 people.
“As I understand it, the Israelis have actually offered to do a little bit of testing themselves in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiations are successful,” Vance said.
The vice president said, “If Iran wants to let these negotiations fail … over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never said was part of the ceasefire, that is ultimately their choice.”