Iran warns ceasefire violations will meet ‘strong’ response, as Lebanon emerges as sticking point
by Tom Howell Jr. · The Washington TimesA top Iranian official warned Thursday that violations of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will have “explicit costs,” as European leaders and others urged Israel to stop attacking Lebanon.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posting on social media, pointed to the Pakistani government’s statement about the ceasefire, which explicitly included Lebanon.
He said any violations of the ceasefire agreement would “carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.
“Extinguish the fire immediately,” Mr. Ghalibaf posted.
Mr. Trump agreed late Tuesday to hold off on his promise to order the death of “a whole civilization” after Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz as part of a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire of the war between Washington and Tehran.
However, attacks by Israel on Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have emerged as a sticking point in the fragile truce.
“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon,” Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters on Wednesday, adding that “we never made that promise.”
However, European leaders said the Israeli strikes on Lebanon are causing death and destruction. They said Lebanon ought to be included in the ceasefire so that it is durable.
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“Israeli actions are putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain. The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon,” Kaja Kallas, who leads foreign affairs for the European Union, posted on X. “Hezbollah must disarm. The EU supports Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah.”
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Lebanon should be included in the ceasefire, and Italy urged Israel to stop its bombardment.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France condemned the Israeli strikes “in the strongest possible terms.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.