Iran ‘pulls out of peace talks with US’ as Israel orders troops to push into Lebanon

Iran’s negotiating team has withdrawn from talks with the U.S. aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, citing Israel’s deepening military push into Lebanon. The move follows Israel’s order for troops to advance into southern Lebanon, where clashes with Hezbollah have intensified. Iranian state media reported that negotiations through mediators have halted, derailing hopes for an imminent diplomatic resolution. Oil prices rose by over $5 per barrel after reports claimed Iran and its allies, including groups in Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq, planned to block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts like the Bab El Mandeb Strait. Iranian officials warned that continued U.S. military blockades and escalation in Lebanon would push tensions beyond limits. Mohsen Rezaee, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, stated that Iran’s armed forces would no longer tolerate such actions, while Iran’s central military command threatened retaliation against northern Israeli residents if Beirut is targeted. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, authorized fresh attacks on Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs, reinforcing a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for residents in the targeted areas, warning of further strikes if Hezbollah continued rocket attacks on Israeli cities. Despite Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, assuring the U.S. that Hezbollah was ready for an immediate ceasefire, Israel’s military operations have persisted. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in diplomatic efforts with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu, proposing a plan for gradual de-escalation. The fragile ceasefire, brokered earlier by former U.S. President Donald Trump, has seen limited Israeli strikes on Beirut since April 16, though broader hostilities have displaced over a million people. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, warned that any violation of the ceasefire terms—including attacks on Lebanon—would hold the U.S. and Israel responsible for the consequences. The escalation underscores the fragility of the peace process, with Iran threatening broader regional disruptions if tensions in Lebanon worsen. While Trump has suggested Iran remains open to a deal, Iranian criticism of U.S. policies and Israel’s military actions has complicated diplomatic efforts.