US-Iran set up Lebanon ‘deconfliction cell’. Can it deliver peace

Tripartite operations for cessation of hostilities

After the first day of talks in Switzerland, Tehran and Washington consented to create the “deconfliction cell” involving Iran, the United States, and Lebanon to “ensure adherence to the termination of military operations in Lebanon,” the New York Post reported, citing the joint statement released by Qatar and Pakistan.

Testing the sincerity of the peace process

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said it would be the “first real test” of the negotiations to ensure a ceasefire is followed in Lebanon, as the Israeli military continued its strikes in Beirut, CBS News reported.

.@VP: I would describe the progress on Lebanon as “very good progress.”

“We want a regional ceasefire… we’ve been, I think, very good at setting up what we’re calling a deconfliction mechanism… when things happen, the sides are actually talking to one another.” pic.twitter.com/kXqavkyJkl

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 22, 2026

Israel’s exclusion and military coordination issues

Notably, Israel is not a part of the joint statement mechanism where the “deconfliction cell” is being established for Lebanon, and it remains unclear if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the idea.

A spokesperson for Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office, David Mencer, said, “Israel is not a party to this (memorandum of understanding) or of the negotiations with Iran,” CNN reported.

The aim to establish a “deconfliction cell” for Lebanon is to reportedly prevent the Israeli military from inadvertently clashing with the Lebanese military.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had said earlier this month that movement in the Lebanese region “requires coordination” after a general and several officers of Lebanon’s military were killed in Israeli military’s strikes.