Iran’s Pezeshkian Warns Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Threaten US-Iran Ceasefire
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stern warning on Thursday, April 9, 2026, stating that continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon constitute a “blatant violation” of the newly brokered US-Iran ceasefire.
Speaking following a wave of intense Israeli airstrikes that killed over 250 people in Lebanon, Pezeshkian cautioned that these escalations risk collapsing the fragile two-week truce and could render upcoming peace negotiations in Islamabad “meaningless.”
Key Conflict Updates:
Ceasefire at Risk: The two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan on April 8, was intended to halt hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Disputed Terms: While Tehran and Islamabad insist Lebanon is included in the truce, the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed the agreement does not extend to operations against Hezbollah.
Casualty Toll: Lebanese Civil Defense reported that Wednesday’s strikes dubbed “Operation Eternal Darkness” by the IDF resulted in the deaths of 254 people and injured more than 1,100 others.
Our hands remain on the trigger,” Pezeshkian stated via social media. “Continued attacks will make negotiations meaningless. Iran will never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters.
Regional Implications and Global Reaction
The United Nations and several European leaders have expressed “grave concern” over the escalation. French President Emmanuel Macron, acting as a guarantor of previous agreements, held a phone call with Pezeshkian to discuss the 10-point plan for regional stability.
Market analysts warn that if the ceasefire fails, global oil prices could spike further due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, which has seen Iran restrict maritime traffic in response to the conflict that began on February 28.
Rédactrice Claire
