Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, June 26, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, June 26, 2026
Hezbollah chief says Iran deal marks a declaration of defeat for Israel and US
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Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem addresses crowds via a giant screen. June 17, 2026. (Anwar AMRO / AFP)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem says that the US-Iran deal signed last week was a declaration of defeat for Israel and America, after the agreement also reduced fighting between his terror group and Israel.
“They wanted a major war… to eliminate our existence,” Qassem says in a televised address to mark Ashura, a day of mourning for the death of a key figure in Shia Islam.
“We were able to stop this aggression and achieve a great victory… We have shattered the Israeli-American project and entered a new phase,” he adds. Iran “was able to reach the memorandum of understanding, which is an official declaration of the defeat of America and Israel.”
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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