Iran warns Israel’s Lebanon strikes will ‘render US talks meaningless’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stark warning Thursday that ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon would render the newly brokered ceasefire negotiations with the United States completely futile. “Continued attacks will make negotiations meaningless; our hands will remain on the trigger, and Iran will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters,” Pezeshkian wrote on social media. His statement came as the Israeli army escalated its bombardment across Lebanon, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165 on Wednesday alone, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defense.

Lebanon Integral to Ceasefire, Qalibaf Warns

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, in a separate post, declared that Lebanon and the entire “Resistance Axis” form an inseparable part of the ceasefire framework, citing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks. Qalibaf warned that any violation of the truce would carry “explicit costs and strong responses,” urging Israel to “extinguish the fire immediately.” While Islamabad and Tehran insist the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv have denied that, creating a critical point of contention ahead of direct talks.

Direct US-Iran Talks in Islamabad

Pakistani government sources told Anadolu that US and Iranian delegations will hold direct negotiations in Islamabad starting Saturday, aiming to reach a permanent ceasefire. The talks, which may extend beyond a single day, follow a two‑week pause brokered by Pakistan after the US‑Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. Türkiye, which has consistently condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and called for an immediate halt to civilian bloodshed, continues to support all diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region and uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty.