Iran official says renewed war with US appears “inevitable” as Israel, Hezbollah continue to fight

Iranian officials are still discussing the latest draft of a potential deal with the US and have yet to respond, Iran’s Mehr News agency said on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the talks.

“The United States is worried about the war; we are worried about the agreement,” said the source. “Based on past experience, Iran is looking for tangible and practical benefits.”

Another Iranian news agency, Tasnim, which is closely linked to the country’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said on Monday the regime had suspended indirect talks with the US.

It was not clear from the Mehr report whether Iranian negotiators intended to send a response to the US delegation through Pakistani mediators, and if so, when.

President Trump said Monday that negotiations are “continuing, at a rapid pace.”

Iran’s top military official said on Tuesday that the war with the United States has started again, as negotiations between Tehran and Washington appear to be stalling.

“The United States wants us to surrender completely, and the Iranian state will not surrender,” said Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the deputy head of Iran’s military commander, Khatam al-Anbiya. “Without sacrifice, war is inevitable.”

Israel and Hezbollah clashed overnight despite President Trump’s announcement that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire ahead of US-sponsored talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday.

Hezbollah says it is repeatedly attacking Israel, especially in southern Lebanon, including after Mr.

Hezbollah also said it attacked an Israeli tank on Tuesday morning in Hadatha, southern Lebanon, saying in a Telegram it was fighting “the advance of the Israeli army.”

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes late Monday in several villages and towns in the south of the country.

The Israeli military, on the other hand, said it intercepted two explosives from Lebanon without any casualties on Tuesday.

France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday there was no justification for Israeli troops to stay inside Lebanon, after Israel and Hezbollah clashed overnight despite a US announcement that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire.

“Nothing can justify the continuation of the war and Israel’s prolonged occupation of Lebanese territory,” Jean-Noel Barrot told France TV.

President Trump said in his Truth Social forum on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “turned his troops” on Lebanon following their previous phone call.

“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, I am asking him not to go into a major attack on Beirut, Lebanon. He has responded to his forces,” said Mr.

The president also said he spoke with Hezbollah representatives, “who agreed to stop firing at Israel, and its soldiers.”

Accordingly, Israel has agreed to stop firing on them,” said Mr. “Let’s see how long that lasts – I hope it’s FOREVER!”

Earlier, Netanyahu said he told Mr. Trump said his country will attack Beirut if Hezbollah does not stop attacking Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli army will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said.

Axios reported on Monday that the call between the two leaders was heated, with Mr. Trump scolded Netanyahu for Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah’s threats to bomb Beirut.

A US official told the website that the president told his Israeli counterpart: “You’re crazy. You’d be in jail if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your asses. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

The second source who was informed about this call said Mr. Trump shouted “What are you doing?”

An Israeli official told Axios that Israel no longer plans to attack Beirut.

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington said on Monday that Hezbollah has accepted the US proposal to stop attacking Israel in order for Israel to stop attacking south of Beirut.

Under this plan, which Hezbollah accepted according to a joint statement by the Lebanese President’s Office, “Israeli strikes in Dahiyeh will stop instead of Hezbollah refraining from attacking Israel,” referring to areas south of Beirut, which Israel threatened to attack on Monday.

Israel’s escalating offensive in Lebanon, including its deepest offensive in two decades and heavy bombing, threatened to end the ceasefire between the US and Iran in the wider Middle East war.

President Trump announced on social media that “all firing will cease” between Israel and Hezbollah.

Mr. Trump also said on his Truth Social platform that no Israeli soldiers will go to the capital of Lebanon, Beirut and any soldiers who were heading to this city have gone back.

The president said the deal came after separate phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “high-level representatives” of Hezbollah.

“They have agreed that all the shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” said Mr.

President Trump said Monday that negotiations with Iran are “moving forward, at a very high pace.”

He mentioned this on his Truth Social platform without giving more information or details.