Fresh roadblock for West Asia peace: Iran halts negotiations, cites Israeli strikes in Lebanon

A plume of smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Tyre, southern Lebanon, on Monday. PIC/AFP

Tehran has suspended all exchanges with mediators in peace talks with the United States (US), Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Monday, as negotiations to end the wider Middle East conflict appeared to be in deep trouble amid Israel's expanding military offensive in Lebanon.

The move comes at a time when indirect talks aimed at ending the war and reopening key regional routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have made little progress despite weeks of dialogue marked by military escalation and repeated warnings.

According to Tasnim, Tehran was suspending dialogue and exchange of texts with mediators in protest against Israel's continued operations in Lebanon. The decision followed renewed exchanges of strikes involving US forces, despite a weeks-long ceasefire arrangement that has remained fragile.

"Given the continuing crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Lebanon and considering that Lebanon was one of the preconditions for the ceasefire and that this ceasefire has now been violated on all fronts, including Lebanon, the Iranian negotiating team is suspending dialogues and exchange of texts through mediators," Tasnim reported.

The agency said Iran is demanding the "immediate cessation" of Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas in northern Lebanon, before any resumption of talks.

Israel has expanded its offensive deeper into southern Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to intensify strikes and target what he described as "terror targets" in a southern district of Beirut. Israel's Arabic-language military spokesperson also urged residents of Dahiyeh to evacuate ahead of strikes.

US backs Israel operations as Iran signals escalation

The US has backed Israel's operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon while simultaneously attempting to keep diplomatic channels open with Iran to end the wider war launched in late February and to negotiate terms involving Iran's nuclear programme and regional security arrangements.

However, Iran reiterated on Monday that nuclear negotiations have not been resumed and insisted that Israel must halt its offensive in Lebanon before any broader settlement can be considered.

Tasnim also reported that Iran and its allies had "set their determination to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait", signalling a potential escalation affecting key global shipping routes.

Pakistan continues to act as the chief mediator in the indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, but progress remains stalled as hostilities persist across multiple fronts.

(With AFP inputs)