TEHRAN: Despite a ceasefire, unabated Israeli attacks on Lebanon have forced Iran to suspend its ongoing peace talks with the United States. On Monday, Iran suspended indirect exchanges and text-sharing with the United States through mediators as a protest against ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
The decision was made in response to what Iranian officials described as continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Tehran reportedly views adherence to the Lebanon ceasefire as a key condition for maintaining broader regional truce arrangements.
According to the report, Iran’s negotiating team has halted all indirect communications and exchanges of messages with Washington through mediators. Iranian officials have reportedly linked the resumption of such contacts to developments in both Gaza and Lebanon.
Tasnim said Iranian negotiators are demanding an immediate end to Israeli military operations in the two territories. In addition, they have called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from areas occupied in Lebanon before any talks can resume.
The report quoted Iranian officials as saying that no negotiations would take place until Tehran’s concerns and those of its regional allies are addressed. As a result, diplomatic efforts that relied on indirect channels between Tehran and Washington have reportedly been put on hold.
Meanwhile, the agency claimed that Iran and allied groups within what it described as the “resistance axis” are preparing responses to Israeli attacks and evaluating additional options to increase pressure on Israel and its supporters.
Among the measures reportedly under consideration are actions involving key regional waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The report stated that discussions include the possibility of expanding pressure through additional regional fronts.
The development underscores growing tensions across the Middle East as diplomatic efforts face new obstacles amid continued conflict in Gaza and recurring hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border. Iranian authorities have not yet issued a separate official statement detailing the duration of the suspension or the conditions required for talks to resume.
