Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Prompt Outcry from Iran Amid Ceasefire Tensions

Thu Apr 09 2026 15:19:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister condemns Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon as a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement, highlighting escalating tensions in the region.

Following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that resulted in significant casualties, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that this incident constitutes a serious breach of the recent ceasefire agreement. Khatibzadeh asserted that both Lebanon and Hezbollah should be included in ceasefire terms, and called for the U.S. to choose between continuing hostilities or supporting peace. Hezbollah has retaliated by claiming responsibility for strikes against Israel, escalating the situation further.

An Iranian minister has told the BBC that Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday constituted a grave violation of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Lebanon was covered by the two-week deal agreed on Tuesday - something the US and Israel dispute - and said the US must choose between war and ceasefire.

The Lebanese health ministry has said at least 203 people were killed on Wednesday in air strikes on what Israel called Hezbollah command centres and military sites.

Pressed on whether Tehran would likewise ask Hezbollah to stop firing rockets towards Israel, Khatibzadeh claimed the Iranian-backed militant group had abided by the ceasefire.

Hezbollah said on Thursday that it had fired at Israel overnight in response to what it called ceasefire violations.

It has also threatened to keep up its attacks until Israeli-American aggression against Lebanon comes to an end.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Khatibzadeh said Tehran had sent a crystal clear message to the White House late on Wednesday which could be summarised as you cannot have cake and eat it at the same time.

You cannot ask for a ceasefire and then accept terms and conditions, accept all the areas that a ceasefire is applied to, and name Lebanon, exactly Lebanon in that, and then your ally just starts a massacre, he added.

He said the deal that was reached - which Trump called a workable framework - meant that Iran, Washington and each of their allies were to adhere to the ceasefire, and claimed Hezbollah had very much abided by that.

Khatibzadeh was asked whether this meant Iran would not be charging ships for passage or threatening them, indicating that Iran wanted the strait to be peaceful but would require cooperation with Oman and the international community on a protocol for safe passage.

However, he was very doubtful that a permanent understanding with the US could be reached, accusing Washington of using negotiations as a cover for military action.

In summary, tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate as both sides navigate the fragile ceasefire and the ongoing fallout from military strikes in the region.