Iran’s new Supreme Leader issued a chilling message after Benjamin Netanyahu was scolded by Donald Trump for nearly jeopardizing the shaky ceasefire.
The Israeli prime minister held a phone call between Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, according to Axios. Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu to ‘calm down’ the strikes in Lebanon and open peace negotiations.
Trump’s request came as the US prepares to meet with Iranian leaders in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the war.
Amid Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran, Israel has continued to bombard urban population centers in Lebanon, including Beirut, killing and injuring civilians.
Iran claims Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal with the US and is now threatening to abandon peace talks and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless Israel stops attacking its proxy, Hezbollah, in the region.
US and Israeli diplomats deny that the ceasefire with the Islamic regime applies to Netanyahu’s ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Officials close to Netanyahu said Israel would not observe a ceasefire with Lebanon until a formal agreement is reached during the upcoming peace talks.
‘I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,’ Trump told NBC News on Thursday.
The new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in a statement that Iran will move the management of Hormuz into a new phase.
‘Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights and considers all resistance fronts as a unified entity,’ Khamenei added in a statement read on state TV.
He added: ‘We are still awaiting an appropriate reaction from our southern neighbors so that we can show you our brotherhood.’
Israel has rapidly escalated their attacks against Lebanon since the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people with air strikes, according to the Lebanese Civil Defense.
‘In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,’ Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister noted that negotiations ‘will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.’
Iran, for decades, has used proxy Islamic militant groups, such as Hezbollah, to attack US and Israeli assets in the Middle East.
A senior Israeli official said that negotiations between Netanyahu’s cabinet and Lebanon are set to begin next week.
The summit will be hosted by the US at the State Department headquarters in Washington, DC.
Should global leaders intervene more forcefully at this stage?
US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa will moderate the talks, while Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter will represent Netanyahu. The Lebanese group will be represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.
The Iranians put forward a ten-point ceasefire plan on Tuesday that Trump called ‘a workable basis on which to negotiate.’
The plan allows Iran to continue controlling the strait, although Tehran said countries that did not threaten them militarily would be allowed to pass.
Vice President JD Vance will help lead peace negotiations for the US in Pakistan on Friday.
The ceasefire comes after Trump vowed to destroy the entire civilization of Iran.
