UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that Israel’s deadly attacks in Lebanon pose a serious threat to the recently agreed US-Iran ceasefire. In a statement issued Wednesday, his spokesperson said the ongoing military operations in Lebanon endanger both the ceasefire and broader efforts to achieve lasting and coordinated peace in the region. Guterres urged all parties to immediately halt hostilities.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 182 people and injured 890, marking the heaviest bombardment of Beirut since the conflict began. The escalation followed Israel’s declaration that Lebanon was not part of the two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran on Tuesday night. In response, Hezbollah claimed to have fired rockets into Israel, while Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning regarding the truce.

The UN chief condemned civilian casualties and emphasized that the conflict has no military solution, calling for diplomatic efforts. UN human rights chief Volker Türk, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced deep concern and urged inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire framework.

US President Donald Trump announced that American warships, aircraft, and military personnel will remain positioned around Iran. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday night, he warned that if Iran fails to fully comply with its agreement with the United States, the country could face a devastating attack. Trump reiterated that the US military presence will continue until the signed agreement is completely observed.

Trump stated that if Iran does not adhere to the deal, severe military action would follow, describing it as more powerful than any previous response. He also said both sides agreed that Iran would not develop nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open and safe for commercial shipping. According to him, the US military is currently in a state of readiness and awaiting its next mission.

The statement underscores Trump’s emphasis on enforcing compliance with the Iran agreement and maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route.

Iran carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia’s crucial east-west oil pipeline, according to a Reuters report citing relevant sources on Wednesday. The same sources said several other Saudi installations were also targeted. The assault may disrupt oil supply through the pipeline, and authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage.

In a statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that it used drones and missiles to strike multiple targets in the region. Among the targets were oil facilities operated by American companies located in Yanbu. Experts warned that the incident could further intensify what is already one of the world’s most severe energy crises.

The full scale of the damage and the potential impact on global oil markets are still being evaluated, with no immediate details on restoration efforts.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to arrive in Pakistan on Friday for talks. However, conflicting reports have emerged about who will participate in the meeting.

According to two unnamed Pakistani sources cited by Reuters, US Vice President J.D. Vance will lead the American delegation, which is scheduled to meet in Islamabad with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Meanwhile, US media outlets quoted President Donald Trump as saying that direct talks with Iran would take place “very soon,” though security concerns might prevent Vance from attending.

The meeting, if confirmed, would mark a rare diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistan serving as the host venue. Details about the agenda and participants remain uncertain.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stern warning to the United States, saying it must choose between supporting a ceasefire or continuing to fight on behalf of Israel. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Araghchi stated that the conditions for a ceasefire between the United States and Iran are clear and that both options cannot coexist.

He added that the world is witnessing what he described as genocide in Lebanon and that the next move lies with the United States. Araghchi emphasized that the international community is watching whether Washington will act according to its stated commitments.

The warning came a day after the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire following more than a month of conflict, according to Anadolu news agency.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz after accusing Israel of violating a recently declared ceasefire by launching heavy attacks in Lebanon. The closure began Wednesday afternoon, halting all tanker traffic through the strategic waterway. According to Lebanon’s Civil Defense, the Israeli strikes killed at least 254 people and injured 1,165 others. Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the decision followed Israel’s breach of ceasefire conditions, a claim also confirmed by the official IRNA news agency.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced the establishment of a ceasefire based on Iran’s conditions, allowing two oil tankers to safely pass through the strait. However, after renewed Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Tehran suspended all remaining tanker movements. One of Iran’s key ceasefire terms required halting attacks on the “resistance front,” including Lebanon.

The developments have cast uncertainty over the ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel, only hours after it took effect. Fars News also reported that Iran is finalizing plans for retaliatory measures against Israeli military positions in occupied territories.

Iran has accused the United States of breaching three conditions of a proposed ceasefire framework before formal discussions could take place. In an official statement released on Tuesday night, Tehran said that repeated violations had deepened its longstanding distrust of Washington. The statement noted that the U.S. president had earlier described Iran’s ten-point proposal as a practical basis for negotiations, yet three clauses were already violated.

According to the statement, the first violation concerns the ceasefire condition related to Lebanon, which Iran said was ignored despite calls for an immediate halt to hostilities across all regions. The second violation involved a drone entering Iranian airspace, which was reportedly shot down in the Lar area of Fars province. The third violation, Iran claimed, was the denial of its right to enrich uranium, a right recognized under the sixth clause of the ten-point framework.

Iran concluded that the agreed foundation for talks had been openly breached, making any bilateral ceasefire or negotiation unreasonable under current circumstances.

Hezbollah announced early Thursday that it launched rocket attacks targeting northern Israel, claiming the strikes were in response to what it described as continuous ceasefire violations by Israeli forces. The group made the statement through its Telegram channel, asserting responsibility for the attack.

According to the statement, Hezbollah vowed to continue its retaliatory operations until what it called Israeli and U.S. aggression comes to an end. Israeli media reported that one rocket fired from Lebanon was intercepted midair. The exchange followed a series of Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday that hit nearly 100 targets across Lebanon within a span of ten minutes, killing at least 254 people and injuring many others.

The report, published by Al Jazeera and cited by local outlet Amar Desh, highlights the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah despite existing ceasefire arrangements.

Syria has strongly condemned Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon and called for an immediate ceasefire. In a statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government described the assault on what it called the “brotherly” nation of Lebanon as a clear violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

According to the statement, Israeli forces carried out strikes on nearly 100 targets across Lebanon within just ten minutes on Wednesday, with most of the attacks concentrated in the capital, Beirut. The ministry said that more than 250 people were killed and over 1,160 others injured in the attacks. The condemnation was also reiterated in a post on the social media platform X, emphasizing that Israel’s continued assaults constitute a blatant breach of international norms.

The report, citing Middle East Eye, highlights the scale of the strikes and the mounting civilian toll, underscoring Syria’s demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has announced new alternative maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safer navigation for vessels. According to a report by Al Jazeera citing Iran’s state news agency ISNA, the decision aims to help ships avoid potential sea mines and other hazardous areas in the region.

The IRGC Navy instructed all vessels crossing the strait to coordinate with its forces and use the designated alternative routes. The announcement emphasized that following these routes would allow ships to pass through the area safely, minimizing risks from possible underwater threats.

The measure underscores Iran’s focus on maintaining control and safety in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, though further details on the routes or duration of the directive were not provided.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that including Lebanon in the ceasefire agreement is essential for establishing lasting and credible peace in the Middle East. According to Al Jazeera, Macron told Iranian and US leaders that the ceasefire was the best possible decision and that Lebanon’s inclusion represented the most effective path toward peace.

He emphasized that this inclusion is a necessary condition for making the ceasefire credible and sustainable. Macron also said that any final agreement should address Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, its regional policies, and issues related to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron has long opposed military action against Iran and previously described proposals for joint military operations to open the Strait of Hormuz as unrealistic.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the United States must make a clear decision on whether it wants a ceasefire or to continue the war through Israel. In a message on Telegram, he emphasized that the conditions for a ceasefire between Iran and the United States are clear and specific, and that both options cannot proceed simultaneously.

Araghchi added that the world is witnessing genocide in Lebanon and that the responsibility now lies with the United States to uphold its commitments. He previously said that any ceasefire agreement with the US must include Lebanon and require Israel to halt its ongoing war against Hezbollah there. In an earlier post on social media platform X, Araghchi claimed that this issue was already part of an understanding, contradicting Israel’s recent statements.

The remarks highlight Iran’s insistence on linking any regional ceasefire to the situation in Lebanon, placing diplomatic pressure on Washington to clarify its stance.

A two-week ceasefire agreement announced between the United States and Iran has sparked confusion over its actual terms and basis, according to Al Jazeera. The White House stated that President Donald Trump agreed to the ceasefire based on a ten-point proposal submitted by Iran. Trump also claimed on social media that most longstanding disputes between the two nations had been resolved.

However, the White House press secretary later clarified that Trump was referring to a different ten-point plan, not the one previously believed to have come from Iran. This contradiction has created uncertainty about what conditions were actually accepted when the ceasefire was reached. Iran’s original proposal reportedly included limiting Israeli operations in southern Lebanon and actions by its allies, particularly in Yemen.

The confusion has raised questions about the specific terms of the ceasefire and what steps will be taken to implement it, as the true basis of the agreement remains unclear.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran accepted a ceasefire under intense pressure, avoiding further escalation. He said that if Tehran had rejected Washington’s conditions, the next targets would have been Iran’s power plants, bridges, and oil and energy infrastructure. According to Hegseth, such strikes would have delayed Iran’s reconstruction by decades, but the country’s leadership realized that an agreement was the better option.

Hegseth added that President Donald Trump had the capability to cripple Iran’s entire economy within minutes but chose to show mercy instead. The ceasefire announcement came less than two hours before the deadline Trump had set for Iran, which he revealed on social media. The report cited BBC as its source.

The statements highlight the US administration’s portrayal of the ceasefire as a result of strategic pressure rather than concession, emphasizing Trump’s decision to restrain from harsher measures.

On the 40th day of the conflict known in Washington as “Epic Fury” and in Tehran as “True Promise 4,” US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council accepted a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire. The agreement, reached in early April 2026, establishes a two-week halt to hostilities and includes Iran’s 10-point peace proposal. For the first time since late February, ships are permitted to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a tentative step toward diplomatic resolution.

The war, which began on February 28, 2026, lacked a United Nations mandate or a clear legal basis under international law. It originated from Israel’s post-October 2023 security doctrine aimed at eliminating perceived threats, with the US providing military capacity. Iran’s response included closing the Strait of Hormuz, triggering severe global energy disruptions and economic losses estimated at $350 billion across the Arab Mashreq. The conflict exposed tensions in Washington’s role as a Gulf security guarantor and left smaller states bearing heavy costs.

Iran’s peace framework calls for guarantees against future attacks, lifting of US sanctions, and reopening of Hormuz under shared management with Oman. Negotiations in Islamabad are expected to determine whether this fragile ceasefire can evolve into a lasting settlement.