U.S., Lebanon and Israel Sign Framework Agreement for Peace Talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter signed a trilateral framework agreement on June 26 in Washington, D.C., marking what U.S. officials characterized as an opening move in efforts to establish peace between Lebanon and Israel.

Rubio told assembled officials and media that the agreement provides a foundation for "lasting peace and security" after decades of conflict and outside interference in Lebanese affairs. He cited the toll on Lebanon's population and the effects of attacks launched from Lebanese territory into northern Israel, where residents have faced repeated security threats.

"The first step is sometimes the hardest step, but it's the one we're taking together today," Rubio said during remarks at the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department.

Ambassador Hamadeh said the framework represents Lebanon's commitment to restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity while securing a permanent end to hostilities. She credited Lebanese President Aoun, Prime Minister Salam, and the Lebanese Armed Forces for enabling the negotiations.

"This was a long and difficult meeting," Hamadeh said, thanking both delegations and U.S. hosts for their cooperation.

Ambassador Leiter emphasized that the agreement excludes Iran and Hezbollah, which he described as external actors. He referenced Israel's security concerns and acknowledged the sacrifices of Israeli military personnel in the region.

"In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in," Leiter said.

Rubio acknowledged the complexity of the work ahead, noting that the agreement does not resolve all outstanding issues between the two nations. He credited his diplomatic team, including State Department Counselor Dan Holler and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Yado Issa, with advancing the negotiations.

The signing came after four days of intensive talks in Washington. Rubio said the U.S. role centered on facilitating discussions rather than imposing solutions, with support from the Defense Department contributing to the negotiations.

All three officials framed the agreement as performance-based, suggesting that implementation will determine whether the framework leads to substantive changes on the ground. The signatories emphasized that future steps will require sustained commitment from both Lebanese and Israeli governments.