Iran has declared that any final agreement to end the ongoing war remains contingent on a full ceasefire in Lebanon, as Israeli violations of a truce continue to escalate.
Speaking at his weekly press conference on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said a halt to hostilities in Lebanon is “inseparable” from any comprehensive deal to end the broader conflict.
“Our region is facing continuous warmongering by the Zionist regime. This is not just about today or yesterday. Over the past 80 years, the Zionist regime, with US support, has waged a permanent and endless war against the countries of the region,” Baghaei said.
He described recent Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “clear and flagrant violation” of the April 8 ceasefire arrangements.
US Accused of ‘Maritime Banditry’
Baghaei also accused Washington of breaching the truce on a wide scale, pointing to ongoing American naval operations.
“Add to this violation of the ceasefire the continuation of maritime banditry and aggression against Iranian commercial shipping, which itself is both a violation of the ceasefire and an act of aggression against Iran,” he said.
The spokesman noted that a US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect, despite a fragile Pakistan‑brokered ceasefire that has been in place since early April. Tehran has refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to vessels affiliated with adversaries until the blockade is lifted and the war permanently ends.
The United States and ‘Israel’ launched their military campaign against Iran on February 28, which Iran says included the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyad Ali Khamenei, as well as strikes on nuclear facilities, schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure.
Iran’s armed forces responded with at least 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against US military bases across West Asia and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories. Iran also effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz to adversary‑affiliated vessels.
Following the Iran‑US ceasefire on April 8, Tehran demanded an end to Israeli attacks on Lebanese soil as a primary condition in indirect negotiations with Washington, compelling Tel Aviv to accept a ceasefire in Lebanon as well. However, the Israeli enemy quickly resumed assaults on southern Lebanon, issuing evacuation threats for several areas even after the initial ten‑day truce between Tel Aviv and Beirut was extended.
“We have emphasized and continue to emphasize that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an integral part of any ceasefire and any final agreement to end the war,” Baghaei reiterated.
Iranian officials have warned that any new aggression will be met with a far more devastating response than before.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)