Iran suspends negotiations with Washington, stipulates cessation of aggression against Lebanon to resume dialogue

The Islamic Republic of Iran announced today, Monday, the suspension of all channels of dialogue and exchange of messages with the United States of America, which were taking place through international mediators. This sudden decision came amid escalating Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which brought the initial understandings between Tehran and Washington to the brink of complete collapse.

Media sources close to decision-making circles in Tehran reported that the Iranian negotiating delegation decided to stop exchanging messages due to the non-observance of ceasefire conditions on various fronts. The sources confirmed that the Iranian side views the continuation of Zionist attacks on Lebanon as a fundamental breach of the commitments that preceded the start of indirect dialogue rounds.

Iranian officials stressed that returning to the negotiating table is organically linked to the immediate cessation of all hostile military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Iranian conditions also included the necessity of the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from all territories they recently infiltrated in southern Lebanon, considering that the 'resistance front' must give its approval to any future agreement.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baqaei, affirmed that his country considers a ceasefire in Lebanon a 'fundamental condition' for any agreement aimed at ending the ongoing regional conflict. Baqaei clarified in a press conference that Tehran will not hesitate to take the necessary measures to protect its national security and support its allies in confronting what he described as continuous aggression.

In a related context, Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that any understanding with Washington must be comprehensive and indivisible, covering all inflamed fronts. Araghchi held the United States and Israel fully responsible for the consequences of violating the truce in effect since last April, pointing out that the fronts are interconnected.

On the ground, the Israeli occupation army issued urgent warnings to evacuate residents in the southern suburb of Beirut, threatening to resume heavy shelling of the area, which is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. These threats come after a period of relative calm witnessed in the Lebanese capital, indicating an Israeli intention to expand the scope of military operations.

In Washington, the American administration adopts a different view, demanding that Hezbollah must first cease fire as a preemptive step for any de-escalation in Beirut. The Israeli government, with the support of US President Donald Trump, opposes any official link between the course of negotiations with Iran and the ongoing military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Recent hours witnessed a direct escalation between Tehran and Washington, as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the execution of 'defensive' strikes targeting radar facilities in southern Iran. US military sources said these strikes came in response to the downing of one of its drones over international waters in the strategic Strait of Hormuz region.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard responded by announcing the targeting of a military base used by US forces to launch attacks against Iranian territory, without disclosing its precise location. This coincided with an announcement by authorities in Kuwait of the interception of missiles and drones flying in its airspace, reflecting the widening scope of direct confrontation between the two parties.

Reports indicate that the latest American proposal conveyed by President Trump includes extending the ceasefire for an additional sixty days. The proposal includes provisions related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation and setting a new timeframe for resuming negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran views with extreme caution.

In this context, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, affirmed that his country will not sign any agreement that does not fully and clearly guarantee the rights of the Iranian people. He clarified that the top priority at present is to end the war and stop the bloodshed, away from complex technical issues that may take longer.

These developments reflect a state of cultural and political divergence in crisis management, just as Iranian cinema, with its realism and sadness, differs from American cinema, which glorifies individual heroism. While the Iranian film 'A Hero' focuses on moral values and historical connection, American films like 'Hero' tend towards happy endings and action, which is evident in the current divergence of political views.

Observers believe that the Strait of Hormuz has become Iran's political 'nuclear bomb' in this confrontation, as Tehran uses its influence in the waterway to pressure the global economy. This comes at a time when President Trump continues to emphasize the enormous economic losses Iran incurs daily as a result of sanctions and military tensions.

The regional scene remains suspended between faltering diplomacy and military escalation that threatens an all-out war, amid each party's insistence on its preconditions. With the continued Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon, the chances of reaching an imminent agreement recede, opening the door to scenarios open to all possibilities in the Middle East.

A ceasefire between Iran and the United States is, without any ambiguity, a comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.