Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, released a statement aimed at influencing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire arrangement.

The agreement was finalized in Washington the previous night. Iran and the Quds Force chief now seem worried. Qaani insisted Israel must leave Lebanon.

He has issued multiple recent warnings about deploying Iranian leverage, possibly through the Houthis, to strike shipping routes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is the duty of all of us, and removing Israel from the region is an attainable goal for Muslims, Qaani stated.

The message spread on an Iranian social media platform without full verification. It also appeared in outlets across the region, including Arab News in Saudi Arabia.

Iran Seeks to Sustain Its Proxies

Qaani further noted that the minimum demand of the resistance is the withdrawal of the usurping regime to the lines it held before the 40-day war began.

The 40-day war reference points to the recent clashes that started on February 28, when Israel and the United States struck Iran. Israel established a security zone in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah's attack on March 2.

Iran continues discussions with the US regarding the Strait of Hormuz while pursuing concessions in Lebanon.

The Islamic Republic aims to maintain Hezbollah as a functional force. It opposes any removal of the group, which serves as a longstanding Iranian proxy and strategic foothold in the area.

The organization has grown stronger since the 1980s, when it first confronted Israel. It later fought Israel in the 1990s and in 2006, with fresh fighting resuming from October 8, 2023.

Israel has not secured a decisive victory over Hezbollah, even after removing its leadership and eliminating some fighters.

Recent days showed friction between Jerusalem and Washington over Israel's push for expanded operations in Lebanon and strikes on Hezbollah positions in the Dahiyeh area of southern Beirut.

US President Donald Trump pressed for a ceasefire and cautioned Israel against hitting Beirut. Israeli officials stated they would respond if Hezbollah persisted with attacks.

Iran monitors developments closely. It favors a ceasefire in Lebanon.

In Washington, Israeli and Lebanese delegations held their fourth meeting on June 3. A deal now exists that could lead to a full agreement.

Hezbollah seeks a ceasefire yet also blocks progress toward one. Further talks may occur in June and produce a wider pact later that month.

Qaani remains a low-profile figure. He endured the recent conflict. Social media rumors have ridiculed him, implying he might be an Israeli asset due to repeated survival.

Qaani has led the Quds Force since January 2020, following the US drone strike in Baghdad that killed his predecessor Qasem Soleimani and Kataib Hezbollah commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an important Iranian-backed ally in Iraq.

Soleimani shaped much of Iran's regional approach and collaborated closely with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Qaani has shown less impact in the role.