The Trump administration is seeking to leverage its newly signed agreement with Iran as a launchpad for broader Middle East diplomacy, with senior US officials confirming on Wednesday, 17 June that the next phase of talks will address Tehran's funding of proxy groups, stability in Lebanon, and a potential normalisation of Israel–neighbour relations. The announcement came from Evian, where senior officials briefed reporters following President Donald Trump's disclosure of the accord.

What the Memorandum Establishes

According to senior US officials, the memorandum signed with Iran creates an interim framework for negotiating a final agreement within 60 days, while preserving the current status quo during the talks. Sanctions relief, officials stressed, will be directly conditional on Iranian compliance with nuclear commitments. 'We are saying the sanctions relief and the nuclear issues are connected,' a senior US official said. 'To the extent that you perform on the nuclear questions, you'll get the sanctions relief.'

A significant early concession from Tehran, officials said, is Iran's acceptance of the destruction of its enriched uranium stockpile through downblending under international supervision. 'The enriched stockpile will be destroyed by down-blending,' an official said, calling it 'a major, major win for the United States of America.'

Hezbollah and Regional Proxy Groups in Focus

Senior officials made clear that the nuclear agreement is only the opening chapter of a larger diplomatic push. 'After nuclear is gonna be regional stability and funding of proxies,' a senior US official said, outlining the administration's sequencing. Washington has communicated directly to Tehran that any reduction in regional tensions will require concrete action on Hezbollah.

'We were very clear with Iran that this will not be a one-sided peace fire,' the official said. 'They have to get a collar on their dog and Hezbollah, and they've gotta hold them back.' Officials also confirmed that Israel would retain full rights to retaliate if Hezbollah initiates attacks. 'If Hezbollah attacks Israel, Israel's gonna have the full ability' to respond, the official said.

Israel–Lebanon Contacts Seen as Promising

Senior officials described ongoing direct contacts between Israel and Lebanon as a potentially significant development, noting that such discussions could help reduce tensions historically fuelled by Iran-backed groups. 'The hope is that through these discussions, we're able to help create a new angle in the direct Israel–Lebanon discussions,' a senior US official said. This marks a notable diplomatic opening, given that the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations and have been in a technical state of war for decades.

Verification Over Trust

The administration was explicit that the agreement rests on verification mechanisms rather than goodwill. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will play a central role in monitoring compliance, supplemented by US intelligence and additional verification measures. 'We're not really in the trusting business,' a senior official said. 'We're gonna see if we can come to a place that leads us to a deal that could work.'

Officials also noted a marked increase in direct communication between US and Iranian representatives during the recent crisis period. 'There's much more direct interaction,' a senior official confirmed.

What Happens Next

The next round of negotiations is expected to take place in Switzerland, where both sides will attempt to convert the preliminary memorandum into a comprehensive agreement. President Trump, officials said, remains prepared to walk away if Iran does not honour its commitments. 'If we're not able to make a great deal, President Trump has been very clear that he has a lot of tools at his disposal,' a senior US official warned. The 60-day window makes the Swiss talks a critical milestone for the entire diplomatic architecture.