Iran on Monday accused both the United States and Israel of repeatedly violating ceasefire arrangements in the region, while insisting that any agreement with Washington must include a halt to the fighting
in Lebanon.
Speaking during a weekly press briefing, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei alleged that both Washington and Tel Aviv were continuing military actions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“It is not only the Zionist regime that is committing ceasefire violations. The United States is also committing ceasefire violations in our region on such a wide scale,” Baqaei said.
The remarks came amid renewed military exchanges between Iran and the United States, alongside escalating Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Baqaei stressed that Tehran considers a ceasefire in Lebanon a critical part of any understanding with Washington.
“We insist that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an essential condition for any deal aimed at ending the war,” he said.
According to AFP, Tehran has repeatedly demanded that the fighting in Lebanon be stopped as part of a larger regional agreement, even as negotiations with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme remain stalled.
Israel has meanwhile intensified operations in southern Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recent capture of the medieval Beaufort castle as “a dramatic shift” in the conflict.
An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed eight people on Sunday, including three women, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The Israeli military also announced on Monday that Staff Sergeant Adam Tzarfati, 20, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon.
AFP reported that an Israeli military source said the soldier died in a Hezbollah drone attack.
Since early March, 26 Israelis, including 25 soldiers, have been killed in hostilities linked to the conflict, according to AFP.
FRESH US-IRAN MILITARY EXCHANGES
The Iranian spokesman also accused the United States of carrying out aggressive military actions that had triggered retaliatory strikes from Tehran.
Baqaei said US “aggressive action” had led Iranian forces to target positions from which attacks originated.
His comments followed US military announcements that American forces had carried out “self-defence strikes” on Iranian radar and drone-control facilities in southern Iran over the weekend.
The Pentagon said the strikes were launched in response to the downing of a US MQ-1 drone.
Soon after, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted an “air base from which the attack originated”, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
The latest flare-up coincided with Kuwaiti authorities intercepting missile and drone attacks. Kuwait did not specify where the attacks originated.
NUCLEAR TALKS REMAIN STALLED
Iran also signalled that there had been no substantive discussions with Washington on the details of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“We know when it is necessary to act on nuclear matters. No negotiations have taken place on the details of the nuclear file. At this stage, our priority is ending the war,” Baqaei said.
He also alleged that Washington was “constantly changing its views” and raising “new or contradictory demands”, which he said had slowed negotiations.
