Iran Says Peace Talks ‘Unreasonable’ After Israel’s Deadly Strikes on Lebanon

Tensions in the Middle East escalated after Israel carried out its heaviest strikes yet on Lebanon, killing hundreds and drawing sharp warnings from Iran. Following the attacks, Iran indicated that pursuing peace talks with the United States would be “unreasonable.”

Iran’s lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bager Qalibaf, criticized both Israel and the U.S. for violating conditions of the recently announced ceasefire. He stated, “In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable.” The ceasefire, agreed to on Tuesday by President Donald Trump, was intended to last two weeks, but ongoing military actions cast doubt on its durability.

Israel maintained that the ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that strikes would continue. Iran, aligned with Hezbollah in Lebanon, threatened retaliation while emphasizing that U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program violated the spirit of the agreement.

The developments highlight the fragility of peace efforts in the region, as both sides hold sharply contrasting positions on how to proceed with negotiations and maintain a lasting ceasefire.