Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Thursday that the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Lebanon has rendered any negotiation process meaningless. The president characterized Israel’s actions as a "flagrant violation" of the initial ceasefire agreement and accused the "Zionist entity" of acting in bad faith.
Pezeshkian’s remarks follow an intense wave of airstrikes on Wednesday that left over 200 people dead and approximately 1,000 injured across Lebanon. "Our fingers remain on the trigger. Iran will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters," the president stated on social media, marking a significant hardening of Tehran's stance on the regional crisis.
A Pact Under Crossfire
The diplomatic impasse centers on Pakistan's mediation efforts to secure a definitive truce. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced an immediate agreement on Wednesday, which he claimed included Lebanon. However, both Israel and the White House have denied that Lebanon was part of the agreed-upon terms.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf rejected this position, asserting that Lebanon is an inseparable component of the ceasefire. Qalibaf noted that the ten-point proposal submitted by Tehran had been clear from the outset: "Violations of the ceasefire carry explicit costs and will be met with firm responses. Extinguish the fire immediately," the lawmaker demanded.
Despite the rising tensions, delegations from Iran and the United States are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Friday in an attempt to salvage the agreement. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt maintained that Lebanon was not included in the original document, standing by a narrative that contradicts the Pakistani mediators. The divide between the parties continues to widen as fighting persists on the ground, casting serious doubt on the prospects for tomorrow's diplomatic summit.
