Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire, warning that further attacks would “render negotiations meaningless”. His comments came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its military strikes.
The crisis has left an already fragile ceasefire in serious doubt, with fighting and diplomatic tensions continuing to overlap across the region. The situation has also heightened concern over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route where access remains a point of dispute.
Lebanon at the centre of ceasefire talks
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In remarks reported by Reuters, Cooper also said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
Amid the ceasefire discussions, Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels seeking safe passage through the strait. The proposal has drawn further attention to the movement of oil tankers and wider maritime access in the Gulf.
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US and Iran could collect tolls together in a joint venture. The White House, however, said the priority was to reopen the strait without restrictions.
Diplomatic pressure builds
The latest comments underline the gap between military escalation and efforts to restore a workable ceasefire. Pezeshkian’s warning suggests Tehran views continued strikes as incompatible with diplomacy, while Netanyahu’s position indicates that Israel does not intend to stop its operations.
The inclusion of Lebanon in ceasefire talks has become a key issue, with Britain’s foreign secretary signaling that any deal would need to reflect the situation there as well. At the same time, the question of access through the Strait of Hormuz remains closely tied to broader regional tensions and the flow of energy shipments.
As the crisis develops, governments continue to balance calls for restraint with competing demands over security, shipping, and the conditions for any lasting agreement.
And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.
