Israeli strikes on Beirut foil US peace plans, Iran says ‘no point’ in talks
South China Morning Post • • nation
Key Points:
- US President Donald Trump condemned the Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and urged restraint to avoid further attacks, emphasizing the proximity of a peace deal to end the US-Iran conflict.
- The Israeli military's actions in Beirut have escalated tensions, with smoke rising over the city and casualties reported, including three deaths and six injuries.
- Iran threatened a military response and its chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressed doubts about continuing peace talks with the US, citing Israeli aggression as evidence of US unreliability.
- The peace deal, currently led by Pakistan and others, faces opposition from Israel's government, which feels sidelined and has resisted Trump's calls to cease attacks on Lebanon.
- The recent Israeli strikes mark the most serious escalation between Iran and Israel since a ceasefire was established on April 7, complicating efforts to finalize the regional peace agreement.