Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Monday issued a stark warning to the United States and Israel, saying that escalating military pressure on Iran by way of blockading Iranian ports and killing of Lebanese civilians will carry a cost, one he says Washington and Tel Aviv will ultimately bear.
In a post on his X account on Monday, Qalibaf said the US-imposed naval blockade on Iranian vessels, along with what he described as growing war crimes by the “genocidal Zionist regime” in Lebanon, demonstrates Washington’s failure to comply with the ceasefire.
“The naval blockade and escalation of war crimes in Lebanon by the genocidal Zionist regime are clear evidence of US noncompliance with the ceasefire,” he wrote.
The senior Iranian lawmaker, who is also involved in indirect talks with the United States, warned that continued violent actions would ultimately come at a cost.
“Every choice has a price, and the bill comes due,” Qalibaf said. “It will all fall into place.”
His remarks come amid reports of continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, including repeated incursions north of the Litani River, strikes on civilian areas, and displacement orders affecting communities in southern Lebanon.
These developments have reportedly led to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure, despite a truce that took effect in April. Rising tensions in the region have also raised concerns over worsening humanitarian and security conditions.
The Federation of Labor and Health Unions in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley has condemned recent Israeli strikes targeting Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, calling them a “dangerous escalation.”
As Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire between Iran and the United States took effect on April 8 and subsequent negotiations on the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US are on to produce a final agreement amid disagreements over US demands, including the naval blockade on Iranian vessels.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that a ceasefire in Lebanon is inseparable from any broader agreement to end the conflict, accusing Israel of escalating regional tensions.
“Our region is facing continuous warmongering by the Zionist regime. This is not just about today or yesterday. Over the past 80 years, the Zionist regime, with US support, has waged a permanent and endless war against the countries of the region,” he said.
He added that recent developments represent a “clear and flagrant violation” of the April 8 ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is “unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
“Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” Araghchi wrote on X.
His comments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered attacks on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, signalling further escalation of a war that has complicated mediation towards resolving the U.S.-Iran conflict.
