Iran: Israel's Attacks on Lebanon Could Render Negotiations with the US Futile
Istanbul (ANTARA) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the continuation of Zionist Israeli attacks on Lebanon could render the ceasefire negotiations conducted by his side with the United States “futile”.
“The continuation of attacks will make the negotiations futile; our finger remains on the trigger, and Iran will not abandon its brothers in Lebanon,” said Pezeshkian via social media platform X on Thursday.
In a separate post, also on platform X, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Lebanon and what he called the “Axis of Resistance” are an inseparable part of the ceasefire, quoting a statement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Lebanon and the entire Axis of Resistance, as allies of Iran, are an inseparable part of the ceasefire,” said Ghalibaf.
He added that the Pakistani PM had “openly and clearly” emphasised the issue of Lebanon, and that currently “there should be no room for denial or retreat”.
Ghalibaf also warned that violations of the ceasefire would be met with harsh retaliation.
“Violations of the ceasefire mean there is a price to pay and there will be a strong response,” he said, while reminding that “the fire must be extinguished immediately”.
Zionist Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Lebanon since Wednesday (8/4), despite a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran reached with Pakistan as mediator.
That ceasefire paves the way for a final agreement to end the war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran since 28 February.
While Islamabad and Tehran view the agreed ceasefire as also covering Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv reject this.
According to Lebanese civil defence authorities, Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday caused at least 254 deaths and injured 1,165 others.
Meanwhile, Pakistani government sources on Thursday confirmed that US and Iranian delegations will hold “direct” negotiations in Islamabad to achieve a “permanent ceasefire”.
Those negotiations, set to begin on Saturday (11/4), could last more than one day, the sources said.