Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader has delivered a stark warning following Donald Trump’s reprimand of Benjamin Netanyahu for almost undermining an already fragile ceasefire.
According to Axios, the Israeli Prime Minister engaged in a phone conversation with Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. During the call, Witkoff advised Netanyahu to “ease off” on the strikes in Lebanon and consider initiating peace talks.
This request from Trump coincides with the United States’ plans to engage in discussions with Iranian leaders in Pakistan, aiming to broker an end to the ongoing conflict.
Despite Trump securing a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, Israel has persisted in its airstrikes on densely populated areas in Lebanon, including the capital, Beirut, resulting in civilian casualties.
Iran contends that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire arrangement with the US and has threatened to withdraw from peace negotiations, maintaining the closure of the Strait of Hormuz unless Israel halts its aggression against Hezbollah, its ally in the region.
However, US and Israeli officials refute the claim that the ceasefire with Iran encompasses Netanyahu’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Officials close to Netanyahu said Israel would not observe a ceasefire with Lebanon until a formal agreement is reached during the upcoming peace talks.
‘I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,’ Trump told NBC News on Thursday.
The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in a statement that Iran will move the management of Hormuz into a new phase.
Israel has rapidly escalated their attacks against Lebanon since the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people with air strikes
Iran claims Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal with the US and is now threatening to abandon peace talks and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless Israel stops
Officials close to Netanyahu said Israel would not observe a ceasefire with Lebanon until a formal agreement is reached during upcoming peace talks
‘Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights and considers all resistance fronts as a unified entity,’ Khamenei added in a statement read on state TV.
He added: ‘We are still awaiting an appropriate reaction from our southern neighbors so that we can show you our brotherhood.’
Israel has rapidly escalated their attacks against Lebanon since the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people with air strikes, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense.
‘In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,’ Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister noted that negotiations ‘will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.’
Iran, for decades, has used proxy Islamic militant groups, such as Hezbollah, to attack US and Israeli assets in the Middle East.
A senior Israeli official said that negotiations between Netanyahu’s cabinet and Lebanon are set to begin next week.
The summit will be hosted by the US at the State Department headquarters in Washington, DC.
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The Israeli prime minister held a phone call between Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu to ‘calm down’ the strikes in Lebanon and open peace negotiations
US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa will moderate the talks, while Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter will represent Netanyahu. The Lebanese group will be represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.
The Iranians put forward a ten-point ceasefire plan on Tuesday that Trump called ‘a workable basis on which to negotiate.’
The plan allows Iran to continue controlling the strait, although Tehran said countries that did not threaten them militarily would be allowed to pass.
Vice President JD Vance will help lead peace negotiations for the US in Pakistan on Friday.
The ceasefire comes after Trump vowed to destroy the entire civilization of Iran.
