Iran has threatened to launch new strikes on Israel and resume the war against the US as Donald Trump’s ceasefire efforts are plunged into further jeopardy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday: “If Israel’s aggression against Beirut continues, our armed forces are fully prepared to resume the war and target objectives inside Israel.”
Tehran has repeatedly insisted that Israeli attacks in Lebanon must stop before any lasting agreement can be reached.The latest threat marks a further escalation in Iran’s rhetoric. On Monday, Mr Araghchi warned that the ceasefire extended beyond Iran and the United States, arguing that military action in Lebanon could jeopardise the fragile truce.Writing on X, he said: “A ceasefire between Iran and the United States constitutes, without any ambiguity, a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon.”He added: “Any violation of this ceasefire on one front shall be considered a violation of it across all fronts.” Tehran has also stepped up its threats in response to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, amid growing fears that the conflict could spill further across the region.
The Iranian foreign minister also warned that “The United States and Israel bear responsibility for the consequences of any breach of the truce”, in a message widely interpreted as a warning against further Israeli strikes on Beirut and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The warning came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military, alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, to strike targets in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district in response to what he described as repeated Hezbollah ceasefire violations and attacks on Israeli cities and citizens.
Iran’s armed forces subsequently threatened further action against Israel, signalling a hardening of Tehran’s position as fighting in Lebanon continues despite efforts to preserve a wider regional ceasefire.
The US President later confirmed he had been “a little bit perturbed” by Israel’s continued military action and urged the Israeli leader to halt the attacks.
The row comes as the White House attempts to secure a broader understanding with Iran that could eventually lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies.
Despite the growing tensions, Mr Trump has expressed confidence that a deal can be reached “fairly quickly”, although Iran’s latest threat to resume military action against Israel threatens to derail those efforts and risks plunging the region back into a wider conflict.
