Iran Suspends Peace Talks With U.S. Over Israeli Strikes in Lebanon
Iran has suspended negotiations with the United States, including talks aimed at ending the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, in protest over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, according to Iranian state media.
“The Iranian negotiating team will suspend ‘talks and the exchange of texts through mediators,’” the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said any ceasefire between Tehran and Washington must apply to all fronts, including Lebanon, adding that the U.S. and Israel would bear responsibility for the consequences of any violation.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran could take further action if Israeli operations in Lebanon continue.
“Over the past two days, we have seriously pursued efforts to stop Israel’s attacks. If these crimes continue, we will not only suspend the negotiation process, but we will also stand against the Zionist regime,” Ghalibaf said. “If an agreement is reached to end the war between Iran and the United States, it will include a halt to attacks on all fronts, especially in Lebanon.”
President Donald Trump initially said the U.S. had not been formally informed that Iran was suspending negotiations but suggested a pause in talks would not necessarily concern him. Later Monday, he said discussions were continuing.
“Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hezbollah in an effort to reduce tensions.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his troops around. Thank you Bibi!,” Trump said. “I also had a conversation with representatives of the leaders of Hezbollah, and they agreed to stop shooting at Israel, and its soldiers. Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them. Let’s see how long that lasts — hopefully it will be for eternity!”
Netanyahu later said Israel reserved the right to continue military action if attacks from Lebanon persist.
“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,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “This remains our position. At the same time, the IDF will continue operating as planned in southern Lebanon.”
The diplomatic dispute over Israeli operations in Lebanon comes as fighting between U.S. and Iranian forces continues despite a ceasefire. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday that American forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles fired toward U.S. positions in Kuwait on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Iran claimed its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone early Sunday after it allegedly entered Iranian territorial waters. The IRGC released footage it said showed the drone being tracked and destroyed by Iranian air defense systems.
CENTCOM confirmed the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone it said was “operating over international waters” and said no American service members were injured in the incident.
In response to the attack, CENTCOM said it eliminated “air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones” in Goruk and on Qeshm Island.
