Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Thursday that continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon would render ceasefire negotiations with the United States ‘meaningless,’ as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf emphasized Lebanon’s significance in the agreement. ‘Continued attacks will make negotiations meaningless; our hands will remain on the trigger, and Iran will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters,’ Pezeshkian shared on the US social media platform X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Qalibaf, in a separate post on X, stated that Lebanon and the ‘Resistance Axis’ are crucial to the ceasefire framework. He cited remarks by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who highlighted Lebanon’s integral role. Qalibaf noted that the Pakistani premier had ‘publicly and clearly’ emphasized the Lebanon issue, cautioning against any denial or backtracking.

Qalibaf also warned that violations of the ceasefire would provoke ‘strong responses,’ stating, ‘Ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and strong responses. Extinguish the fire immediately.’ The Israeli army has intensified attacks across Lebanon since Wednesday, despite a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan between the US and Iran, aimed at halting a conflict initiated by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran on February 28.

While Islamabad and Tehran asserted that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Washington and Tel Aviv have denied this. According to Lebanon’s Civil Defense, Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least 254 fatalities and injured 1,165 people on Wednesday. Pakistani government sources informed Anadolu on Thursday that US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to engage in ‘direct’ talks in Islamabad, with the goal of reaching a ‘permanent ceasefire.’ The negotiations are set to commence on Saturday and may extend beyond a single day.