As Israel intensifies its strikes on southern Lebanon, a senior Iranian diplomat is warning that the escalation is no accident — it may be a calculated attempt to lure Iran back into open war.
In an interview with Iran's Khabar Online news agency, Mohammad Irani, Iran's former ambassador to Lebanon and Kuwait and a former director-general of the Middle East desk at the Foreign Ministry, argued that "Tel Aviv is seeking to drag Iran into the Lebanon war," adding that Netanyahu "needs to focus a major part of his efforts on drawing Iran into the conflict and is, in fact, waiting for Iran's reaction."
The Netanyahu Factor
Irani told Khabar Online that the timing of the escalation is closely tied to Israel's domestic politics ahead of elections. "Netanyahu's situation is not favorable politically," he said, arguing that a wartime atmosphere benefits the Israeli premier. "The war atmosphere on the eve of the elections will ultimately work in Netanyahu's favor," Irani noted, adding that Israel's political space currently favors hardline, extremist currents, leaving little room for moderates.
Much of the interview focused on Israel's claim to have seized the Ali al-Taher heights, a strategically vital position overlooking the city of Nabatieh and the Litani River. Irani stressed that "Ali al-Taher is not an ordinary point" — it has long served as a resistance stronghold with surveillance facilities and tunnels since Israel's 2000 withdrawal, and its capture would be a significant strategic gain.
However, he expressed skepticism: "The claim of capturing Ali al-Taher may be exaggerated." He suggested the announcement may be partly electioneering, noting that some observers and local sources believe the claim is largely propaganda. Still, he cautioned that if true, the military and political implications should not be dismissed, as the heights allow monitoring of movement across the Litani corridor.
The Deadlock: Disarmament vs. Withdrawal
On prospects for an Israeli pullout, Irani was pessimistic. Israel, he explained, has conditioned any withdrawal on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the extension of Lebanese state sovereignty to the south — terms anchored in the June 26 framework agreement between Lebanon, the United States, and Israel. But Hezbollah, Irani emphasized, "was not a party to this agreement and does not consider itself bound by it," and rejects the equation of "disarmament in exchange for withdrawal."
"It is unlikely that anyone should expect an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon anytime soon," Irani concluded — especially, he warned, while Israel watches and waits for Tehran's response.
*Source: Khabar Online, "A New Trap for Iran?" — interview with Mohammad Irani, September 9, 2026 (18 Shahrivar 1405).*