US-Iran Ceasefire Tested, Tehran Threatens Retaliatory Strike on Israel
Further negotiations will take place in Islamabad on Friday (10/4).
Iran has stated it will punish Israel for attacks launched on Lebanon, particularly amid the ongoing ceasefire between Tehran and the United States.
The Iranian government emphasised that the ceasefire agreement covers the entire region, including Lebanon, which has frequently been targeted by Israeli attacks during the conflict.
This claim was also said to have been confirmed by Pakistan as the mediator in the US-Iran agreement.
A senior Iranian official, in a statement to Al Jazeera on Thursday (9/4), stressed that Tehran will not remain silent.
“We will punish Israel in response to the crimes it has committed in Lebanon and the violation of the ceasefire provisions,” he said.
He also added that the ceasefire’s scope is not limited to one area.
“The ceasefire covers the entire region, and Israel is known for frequently breaking promises and can only be restrained by military force,” the official continued.
Meanwhile, Fars News Agency reported, citing unnamed military sources, that Iran is preparing retaliatory steps in response to Israel’s alleged ceasefire violation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also issued a stern warning. The elite force stated it would take firm action if attacks on Lebanon continue.
“We issue a stern warning to the United States, which has broken its promises, and its Zionist ally in the massacres,” the IRGC statement said via FARS media.
The IRGC emphasised serious consequences if the aggression is not halted.
“If the aggression against our beloved Lebanon is not immediately stopped, we will carry out our duty and deliver a response that will make the evil aggressors in this region regret it,” the statement continued.
On the other hand, the Hezbollah militia group controlling southern Lebanon has reportedly begun launching retaliatory attacks on Israel in response to the escalation.
However, Israel insists that the US-Iran ceasefire agreement does not cover Lebanese territory, so its military operations in the area are considered outside the agreement’s framework.