• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Israel's heavy strikes on Lebanon killed hundreds post-ceasefire.
  2. Iran threatened retaliation, closed Strait of Hormuz, stalled talks.
  3. Disputes over Lebanon inclusion, Iran's nuclear program persist.

In less than 24 hours of the ceasefire announced by both the US and Iran, Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people. This triggered a threat of retaliation from Iran, which suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the United States. Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz- a critical chokepoint significant for world's 20 per cent oil flow. 

What went wrong in Pakistan-mediated Iran-US ceasefire?

The core issue is Lebanon. It is being attacked despite a US-Iran ceasefire because Israel and the US confirmed the deal does not cover Lebanon or Hezbollah. Israel stated it is continuing military operations to dismantle Hezbollah's capabilities and create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, aiming to "change the reality" on the ground. Contrary to the claims, Pakistan Prime Miinister Shehbaz Sharif, in a social media post, had categorically mentioned both Iran, US and "allies"- a term he reffered for Israel- agreed on Lebanon   

Iran speaker says Trump had agreed on Lebanon

The warning from Iran's lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, laid bare the continued volatility in the region following Tuesday's ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump.

The two sides have laid out sharply contrasting agendas for peace talks set to start on Saturday, but it was unclear whether the two-week ceasefire would hold until then. Qalibaf said Israel had already violated several conditions of that ceasefire by ramping up its parallel war against the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah, while the US had violated the agreement by insisting that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions.

"In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable," he said in a statement.

Israel, US claim ceasefire did not include Lebanon

Israel and the United States both said the two-week ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes would continue."I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't," US Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the US delegation, told reporters in Budapest.

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The two sides appeared to be far apart on Iran's nuclear program as well — one of the factors that Trump cited as the basis for war. Trump said Iran had agreed to stop enriching uranium, which can be turned into nuclear weapons, and the White House said Iran has indicated it would turn over its existing stocks.

"The United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried ... Nuclear 'Dust,'" Trump said on social media. Qalibaf, however, said it was allowed to continue enriching uranium under the terms of the ceasefire.

A fragile Iran-US ceasefire

Though both the United States and Iran declared victory in a five-week-old war that has killed thousands, their core disputes remained unresolved. Each side is sticking to competing demands for a deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.

ALSO READ: 'No Coverage For Hezbollah Fighters': Netanyahu As Israel Backs US-Iran Ceasefire With A Condition On Lebanon

Pakistan-broker ceasefire is on the brink of collapse

'Netanyahu said Israel had its “finger on the trigger” and was prepared to return to fighting at “any moment.” Lebanon's civil defence service said 254 people had been killed in Israel's strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday. The highest toll was in the capital Beirut, where Israeli strikes killed 91 people, it said. This came despite Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who had posted on social media about the negotiating teams have agreed on Lebanon issue; although he did not mention Israel directly in his post but used "allies" to refer.

Residents said some of the Israeli strikes had come without the usual warnings for civilians to evacuate. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, said early Thursday that it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to "ceasefire violations."

(With inputs from agency)


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