Arabic version: إيران تشكك في وقف إطلاق النار مع تصاعد العنف في لبنان

Israel has continued to carry out deadly strikes across Lebanon despite the announcement of a new US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached by Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington, DC. The violence has pushed the number of casualties higher, with Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reporting that at least 3,526 people have been killed and 10,733 wounded in Israeli attacks since March 2. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has dismissed the ceasefire as a “farce,” warning that northern Israel will remain a target as long as Israeli forces continue bombing Lebanon, raising more doubts about the prospects for a lasting truce.

According to Al Jazeera, concerns regarding the draft deal to end the war have been raised by Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Rezaei stated that the draft memorandum contains “ambiguities” that require clarification. He accused US President Donald Trump of attempting to pressure Tehran into accepting terms while leaving Iran’s conditions unclear.

In Washington, questions are being raised about the necessity of a negotiated agreement with Iran, given Trump’s claims that US military action has effectively “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. Critics are increasingly questioning the need for diplomacy when military objectives appear to have been met, especially as the conflict continues without resolution.

Hezbollah’s rejection of the conditional ceasefire has raised fears of further escalation in the region. Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera noted that Hezbollah remains a dominant force in decisions regarding combat and potential ceasefires, regardless of the Lebanese government’s stance. The group’s refusal to accept the ceasefire suggests that both Hezbollah and Israel may engage in further hostilities, complicating the situation in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley.