Israel is holding negotiations with the US as it seeks to continue its ​deployment of troops in southern Lebanon, two Israeli officials, including ‌a senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Reuters on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ​the sensitive talks, made the comments a day after ​the US and Iran signed an interim pact that calls ⁠for parties to ensure “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”

Israel ​expanded its invasion of southern Lebanon after the Lebanese militia Hezbollah ​opened fire at Israel on March 2 in support of its ally Iran. It has since staged a devastating air and ground campaign that ​it says aims at rooting out Hezbollah.

Israel describes the territory ​it has seized in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria as “buffer zones” between it ‌and ⁠its enemies, a core facet of Israel’s recent security policy. Netanyahu has rejected calls for Israel to withdraw from those territories.

The senior Israeli official told Reuters that Israel was “conducting stubborn negotiations” ​with Washington over ​continuing its deployment ⁠of troops in southern Lebanon.

The official said Israel would not back down on its positions, ​including keeping troops deployed in the area south ​of Lebanon’s ⁠Litani River.

A second Israeli official told Reuters that the outcome of the talks would ultimately depend on whether US President Donald ⁠Trump “decides to ​force the issue” by threatening repercussions ​if Israel does not abide by the interim Iran pact’s terms.

Netanyahu’s office did ​not immediately respond to a request for comment.