Iran has once again threatened that it will completely block the Strait of Hormuz and intensify other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Iranian
news agency Tasnim reported on Monday. The latest flashpoint in the already complex Middle East situation has come after Tehran said it was immediately suspending indirect dialogue channels with the United States to negotiate a peace deal due to Israel’s intensified aggression in Lebanon. A while ago, Iran stopped all message exchange with the US in protest against Israel's continued aggression in Lebanon, saying, the determination of Iran's armed forces and all axes of the resistance front would respond to Zionist crimes and open new fronts. According to Tasnim news agency, the information indicates that given the continuation of Israel's alleged crimes in Lebanon and considering that Lebanon was among the preconditions for the ceasefire, and now this ceasefire has been violated on all fronts including Lebanon, the Iranian negotiation team will stop "dialogues and text exchanges through intermediaries."
The immediate cessation of the aggressive and brutal operations of Israel's army in Gaza and Lebanon and the necessity of the regime's full withdrawal from the areas occupied in Lebanon by the Zionists have been emphasised by Iranian officials and negotiators, and until Iran's and the resistance's views on this matter are met, no dialogue will take place.
The news agency has further reported that the resistance front and Iran have resolved to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in order to punish the Zionists and their supporters.
Doesn't Mean We'll Start Dropping Bombs
In his first reaction after Iran reportedly suspended talks with the United States, in wake of continued Israeli aggression, US President Donald Trump told NBC News that he has not been informed of the decision ahead of time.
"It’s an appropriate thing to say, because they’re better negotiators than they are fighters," Trump told NBC, adding, "they haven’t informed us of that."
In another statement, Trump said, "It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there... but we will keep the blockade."
First I Don't Care, Later Tense Call With Netanyahu, Trump Rushes Into Action
The US President, after Iran's move to suspend peace talks with US, first said that he really didn't care or had problem waiting for Tehran until it agrees to an acceptable deal. But he later blasted Netanyahu on a call, telling him had he "gone f****g crazy" over Israel's continued aggression on Lebanon, that pushed Iran to suspend communication.
Trump later in a Truth Social post informed that he had “very productive” talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and claimed that Israeli troops would not enter Beirut, while also informed that he contacted Hezbollah and the conversation resulted in an understanding that both sides -- Israel and Hezbollah -- would cease attacks.
Israel Orders Strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs After Hezbollah Fire Rockets
As new developments continues to surface in the Gulf and Middle East, Israel’s government ordered strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, a day after its ground forces reached their deepest point in Lebanon in 26 years and as Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, including the outskirts of the coastal city of Haifa.
A joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the orders to attack targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs followed what they called repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah and “attacks against our cities and citizens.”
Hezbollah agreed to halt attacks on Israel when the ceasefire was signed in mid-April, but the militant group resumed the assaults after Israeli strikes in Lebanon that Israel characterized as self-defense.
After Monday's warning, large numbers of people were seen fleeing the area known in Arabic as Dahiyeh, jamming roads leading out of the suburb, where Hezbollah enjoys wide support.
With inputs from AP
