Iran Warns Israeli Strikes on Hezbollah Could Jeopardize Ceasefire With US

Iran has warned that continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon could undermine its ceasefire with the United States, raising fears of a wider regional escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iran has warned that continued Israeli attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon could threaten its ceasefire arrangement with the United States after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the agreement with Washington was “unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” stressing that any violation in Lebanon would be considered a breach of the entire ceasefire arrangement.

Netanyahu had earlier announced that Israeli forces would target what he described as “terror targets” in Beirut’s Dahieh district in response to rocket and drone attacks allegedly carried out by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said diplomatic efforts were continuing at a rapid pace and revealed that he had spoken separately with Netanyahu and representatives linked to Hezbollah.

In a post on social media, Trump said his conversation with Netanyahu was productive and that there would be no Israeli ground troop deployment to Beirut.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back,” Trump said.

He added that discussions with Hezbollah representatives had also yielded positive results, claiming both sides had agreed to halt hostilities.

“Likewise, through highly placed representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump stated.

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah immediately commented on Trump’s remarks.

Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Tehran was considering suspending indirect negotiations with the United States. The agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also suggested that Iran and its allies could activate other fronts in the region, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

Although Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the report, state media indicated that the likelihood of the ceasefire collapsing would increase if Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue.

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran came into effect on April 8 but has not fully ended hostilities in the region. Washington has sought to separate developments in Lebanon from its negotiations with Tehran, while Iran insists that any lasting agreement must also address peace and stability in Lebanon.

On Sunday, a US official disclosed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had proposed a plan for a gradual de-escalation of tensions to both Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Israel has carried out two strikes on Beirut since the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire took effect on April 16, the latest occurring on Thursday. However, the frequency of attacks has declined significantly compared to previous months, amid reports that the White House has been urging Israel to limit military action in Beirut to avoid undermining broader diplomatic efforts.

Regional tensions also intensified over the weekend in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States said it targeted Iranian military sites, while Tehran claimed it retaliated by striking a US military base in Kuwait.

The exchange of attacks contributed to another rise in global oil prices on Monday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed by nearly $5 per barrel to $97.44.

Energy markets have remained volatile since Israeli and US strikes against Iran began on February 28, with both diplomatic developments and military escalations influencing prices.

The three-month conflict has effectively disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a permanent agreement, although no formal deal has yet been announced.