In a significant diplomatic development, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has asserted that any potential agreement between Iran and the United States must be conditional upon an end to hostilities across all fronts, with a particular emphasis on establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon.
During a phone conversation on Monday with his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, Qalibaf stressed the "unbreakable" bond between Iran and Lebanon. He highlighted that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are currently defending both their motherland and the wider Muslim world, reaffirming Iran's steadfast commitment to securing a ceasefire that encompasses the entirety of Lebanon, including its southern regions.
The diplomatic push comes amid heightened military tensions. Iran's main military command, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a stern warning on Monday against Israeli bombing campaigns targeting the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and the southern district of Dahieh. Furthermore, the command advised residents in northern Israel and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories to evacuate should Israeli attacks persist.
Adding to the friction, the Iranian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday citing "flagrant violations" of an April ceasefire by both the United States and Israel. The ministry specifically pointed to continuous US attacks against Iranian shipping and Israel's disregard for Lebanon's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement on Monday, stating they had ordered military strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. They cited repeated "violations" of the Lebanese ceasefire by Hezbollah, including attacks on northern Israeli cities. However, according to reports from state-owned Kan TV News, the Israeli cabinet subsequently decided to postpone these strikes following intervention from the United States.
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Iran's parliament speaker: Deal must include Lebanon ceasefire
cgtn.com
