Middle East crisis live: ceasefire must include Lebanon or war will continue, Iran’s foreign minister says
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, including a temporary reopening of the strategic strait of Hormuz, though Iran has kept the strait effectively closed and threatened to target unauthorized vessels.
- The ceasefire excludes Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 254 people and wounded over 1,100, with Israel continuing military operations against Hezbollah targets despite the ceasefire.
- The White House denies working from Iran's original 10-point ceasefire plan, calling it discarded, while Iran claims a different, more reasonable plan was proposed; both sides claim victory from the ceasefire agreement.
- European leaders welcomed the ceasefire as a step back from conflict but called for a permanent end to hostilities and inclusion of Lebanon in peace efforts, amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanese territory.
- The US defense secretary praised the military's role in the conflict, asserting that Iran's ability to produce weapons has been set back, while warning that the US will act if Iran does not comply with uranium enrichment conditions.
