Iran has threatened to suspend peace negotiations with the United States, accusing Israel and Washington of violating a ceasefire by launching an offensive in Lebanon. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that the ceasefire applies to all fronts, including Lebanon, and that any violation constitutes a breach of the entire agreement.
A news agency aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that Tehran is suspending its participation in talks aimed at ending the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump said he was not yet informed of the suspension but suggested he would not oppose a halt in negotiations, remarking that 'going silent would be very good'.
Trump claimed to have spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, via intermediaries, with Hezbollah, asserting that both sides agreed to a cessation of attacks. However, Netanyahu contradicted this, stating that Israel would continue operations in southern Lebanon and would strike Beirut if Hezbollah attacks persisted.
The escalation follows US strikes on Iranian radar and drone sites, with Iran retaliating by targeting a military base in Kuwait. Iran's military has warned residents of northern Israel to evacuate if Israel attacks Beirut's southern suburbs, and Tehran may ask Houthi forces in Yemen to impose a second shipping blockade in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The tension has pushed oil prices close to $100 a barrel. Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of non-compliance with the ceasefire, stating that 'every choice has a price'. The on-off diplomacy appeared close to a deal last week, but Trump pulled back, demanding revisions.
