Israeli strikes in Lebanon ‘grave violation’ of ceasefire, Iran minister tells BBC

Iranian Diplomat Labels Israeli Strikes on Lebanon as Ceasefire Breach

An Iranian official has asserted that Israeli air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday marked a “serious breach” of the recent US-Iran agreement aimed at halting hostilities. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh emphasized that the two-week ceasefire was intended to encompass Lebanon, a claim contested by both the United States and Israel. He urged Washington to make a clear decision between continuing the war or upholding the ceasefire, highlighting the tension between the nations.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 203 individuals lost their lives during Israeli attacks targeting what the country identified as Hezbollah command posts and military installations. When questioned about Hezbollah’s role in launching rockets toward Israel, Khatibzadeh insisted the group had “complied” with the ceasefire terms. However, Hezbollah stated on Thursday it had retaliated against Israeli strikes, claiming the actions were in response to violations of the agreement. The militant group also warned it would persist with its operations until “Israeli-American aggression” against Lebanon ceased.

“Tehran conveyed a ‘clear and unambiguous’ message to the White House late Wednesday,” Khatibzadeh explained. “It can be summarized as: ‘You cannot seek a pause in fighting and then allow all areas under ceasefire to be targeted, specifically Lebanon, while your ally initiates a massacre.'”

The minister further elaborated on the broader implications of the ceasefire deal, which he described as a “workable framework” under Trump’s leadership. He argued that Iran, the US, and their respective allies were all obligated to follow the terms, noting that Hezbollah had “largely adhered to them.” Yet, he raised concerns about Iran’s warning that vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz without prior approval would be “attacked and eliminated,” despite the agreement’s stipulation that the waterway should remain open.

Khatibzadeh claimed Iran would follow international law, stating the strait’s passage was within the territorial waters of Oman and Iran. He noted that both countries had historically allowed safe navigation “out of mutual goodwill.” The minister added that Iran would ensure the strait’s security if the US ceased its “military interference,” while expressing hope for future diplomatic progress. “We will watch developments closely,” he said, “but as a diplomat, I remain optimistic about reaching a resolution aligned with our national and regional interests.”

Since the conflict began on 28 February, Iran has effectively restricted the critical shipping route through which roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows, disrupting international trade. Although the two-week ceasefire was supposed to include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported the channel remained closed after Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt refuted these claims, stating reports of closure were “incorrect” and noting an “increase” in vessel traffic. President Trump, meanwhile, reiterated that US forces would stay in the region until the “final agreement” with Iran was fulfilled, stressing the importance of maintaining an “open and secure” waterway.