Iran has threatened to exit from the ceasefire agreement over what it called Israel’s “brutal attacks” against Lebanon on Wednesday after the Israeli forces carried out their largest wave of airstrikes against the Iranian proxy militant group Hezbollah. Though Iran called the move a blatant violation of the ceasefire, Israel and the US stated that the truce did not cover Lebanon.
A report that appeared in Iranian state-backed Tasnim News Agency quoted a source who emphasised that the two-week ceasefire plan accepted by the United States included cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including against Lebanon. “However, he said, the Zionist regime has conducted brutal attacks against Lebanon this morning in blatant violation of the ceasefire,” it said, citing a source who claimed Iran was examining its potential withdrawal from the ceasefire plan.
“If the US cannot leash its rabid dog in the region, Iran will exceptionally assist it in this matter! And that will be through force," the source stated.
However, US President Donald Trump told PBS News that Hezbollah was not included in the deal. “They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of too. It’s alright.”
On whether he was okay with Israel’s ongoing strikes against Hezbollah, Trump said: “It’s part of the deal — everyone knows that. That’s a separate skirmish.”
Amid this, reports suggest a series of explosions and air-defence activations across the country over the past day. While explosions were heard in the Mehrshahr area of Karaj, west of Tehran, air defence systems were activated across the Shahr‑e Rey and Masoudieh districts of Tehran, and at the Montazer Ghaem power plant in Fardis, Alborz province. A loud explosion was reported in the southern port city of Bushehr.
Meanwhile, reports claim that the Strait of Hormuz has again been closed, and an oil tanker was reportedly turned away upon approaching the crossing. The oil tanker AUROURA made an abrupt 180-degree turn while approaching the strait’s exit and instead returned to the Persian Gulf. According to MarineTraffic, the ship was being “at anchor” in the Persian Gulf, around two hours after PressTV claims it was turned back from the Strait of Hormuz.
