Iran halts talks with U.S. over Israeli actions in Lebanon, Gaza : NPR

WASHINGTON, DC – Iran has declared it will cease engaging in discussions with the U.S. unless Israel halts its expanding military operations in Lebanon.

According to Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency, Iran announced on Monday that it would discontinue all communications with the U.S. if Israel did not stop its intensified military activities in southern Lebanon.

The news agency cited that, due to the ongoing “crimes” by the “Zionist regime” in Lebanon, and considering Lebanon’s role as a condition for the ceasefire, which has now been breached on every front including Lebanon, Iran’s negotiating team is suspending “talks and exchange of texts through a mediator.”

The Iranian statement further demanded an end to the “aggressive and brutal army operations in Gaza and Lebanon,” calling for Israel’s full withdrawal from the occupied areas in Lebanon.

There was no immediate confirmation from senior Iranian officials about the suspension of diplomatic messages, primarily relayed through Pakistan between the conflicting parties.

The announcement from Iran followed a warning from Israel’s military to residents of Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, urging them to evacuate ahead of planned airstrikes. However, those airstrikes had not commenced hours later.

In response to Iran’s announcement, President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating he had communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, through intermediaries, with Hezbollah leaders. He claimed to have secured commitments to cease the hostilities that have disrupted the ceasefire.

“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, and there will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back. Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump wrote on the platform he owns.

He later mentioned that “Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran did not immediately respond to Trump’s posts.

Netanyahu, however, issued a statement affirming that the Israeli military plans to “continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned.”

“I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and civilians, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut,” he said.

“Our position remains unchanged,” he added.

Oil prices put pressure on Trump

Trump is facing increasing pressure to resolve the impasse that has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed for months. Before the U.S. and Israel commenced their conflict with Iran three months ago, a fifth of the world’s oil supply passed through the strategic waterway. Competing U.S. and Iranian blockades have nearly halted that traffic, causing global oil prices to skyrocket.

Trump appeared confident about negotiations with Iran earlier in the day, posting on Truth Social that “Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A.” He added, “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!”

The U.S. and Iran recently stated they were nearing a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension and framework to initiate talks to end the war, awaiting Trump’s approval.

Israel has taken control of vast areas of southern Lebanon, displacing over a million people. The Israeli military has also increased airstrikes in Gaza, where a ceasefire was declared seven months ago. Israel asserts it is targeting Hamas militants responsible for an attack on Israel in October 2023, but the bombings have also resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

When the ceasefire was declared in October, Israeli forces occupied around half of Gaza’s territory. That area has since expanded to 60%, and Netanyahu announced last week that the Israeli military would soon claim 70% of Gaza.