Iran warns of strong retaliation if Israel continues attacking Lebanon, threatens deal with US
Elizabeth Melimopoulos
Iran accuses Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Lebanon, which is linked to a deal between Tehran and Washington, warning further attacks could trigger a strong response. The accusation came after Israeli airstrikes killed four people in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, US President Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, urging more responsibility in Lebanon.
Iran has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Lebanon, which is tied to the agreement between Tehran and Washington, warning that further attacks could trigger a 'strong response' from Iran. The accusation came after Israeli airstrikes killed four people in southern Lebanon.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to 'be more responsible' in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that any final deal with Washington must include lifting sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets, and withdrawing Israeli forces from Lebanon.
In Iran
Iran sees Lebanon as central to any deal: Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi in Tehran said Iranian officials have consistently insisted that a region-wide ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon, is an inseparable part of any deal with the US. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that further Israeli attacks or continued occupation of Lebanese territory would constitute a violation of the proposed memorandum, arguing that the wars in Iran and Lebanon are interconnected. These statements indicate that Lebanon remains a key 'red line' for Tehran and could become one of the main tests of whether the broader deal can hold.
Third Iranian tanker breaks blockade: TankerTrackers reported that the tanker Sonia I, carrying 1 million barrels of Iranian crude, passed the US Navy's 'blockade line' in the Gulf of Oman at 01:11 GMT. This followed two other Iranian tankers carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels also crossing, as Tehran insists its deal with Washington includes the immediate end of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
War diplomacy
Expert warns fighting in Lebanon could derail US-Iran deal: Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and former aide to US President Ronald Reagan, argued that any deal could collapse unless Washington applies 'real pressure' on Israel to stop attacks in Lebanon. Although the US exerts significant leverage through military and financial aid to Israel, Bandow said no US president has been willing to cut off that support for long. 'If Trump does not apply real pressure, if he cannot find a way to do so, it becomes dramatic,' he said. 'And the Iranians are unlikely to be happy. That could break the deal.'
Carney calls US-Iran deal a 'turning point': Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he has reviewed a copy of the preliminary deal and described it as 'beyond my expectations'. 'We are very pleased with the agreement reached,' he told CNN, though the terms have not been announced.
In the US
Vance says Iran could get 'real benefits' if it complies: US Vice President JD Vance said the deal is 'very simple': Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, and Tehran could receive 'real benefits' if it 'behaves properly'. 'If they stop funding terrorism... they can actually get some real benefits. If they don’t do any of those things, they get nothing,' he said, adding that 'the US wins in every scenario.'
In Israel
Annexation concerns stoke controversy in Hebron: Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh in Ramallah said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s transfer of planning authority in Hebron to the Israeli military undermines the 1997 Hebron Agreement, which divided the city between Palestinian and Israeli control, and reflects a de facto annexation trend. She argued the government is 'pushing forward land seizure and de facto annexation' at a time when the ruling coalition needs to 'shore up support', arguing these are 'popular measures' that can 'divert attention from a growing rift with Washington' due to pressure over the US-Iran deal.
Poll shows Israelis skeptical of US-Iran deal: A survey by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan found only 18% of Israelis support the deal, while 55% oppose it. Despite recent attacks on Iran, 70% said they 'still fear the Iranian threat'. The survey also found 40% believe Donald Trump will remain a 'great friend of Israel', while 32% think his stance toward Israel will change.
In Lebanon
Israeli attacks kill 4 in southern Lebanon: At least four people were killed in Israeli drone strikes in Lebanon's Nabatieh province, according to the National News Agency, despite the ceasefire and the US-Iran deal that was reportedly intended to stop fighting 'on all fronts, including Lebanon'. The attacks are likely to fuel Iran's accusations that Israel is violating the deal and risk collapsing it.
