Iran warns it will halt US talks if Israel continues strikes on Lebanon

TEHRAN: Iran has warned that it could suspend negotiations with the United States if Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon, according to Iranian officials.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said talks with Washington would be halted if Israeli strikes on Lebanon persist.

Meanwhile, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani stated that ongoing Israeli actions in Lebanon and Gaza could force the “Axis of Resistance” to respond.

 He added that the group is capable of affecting maritime traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in a manner similar to developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, Ibrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, warned of “serious consequences” if attacks on Lebanon do not stop.

He said Iran is fully prepared for a military response, cautioning Israel and US forces in the region that the threats were not empty and that American military presence could also face repercussions.