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.

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.

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.

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.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has accused the United States of violating the terms of a ceasefire agreement following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed at least 254 people on Wednesday. The allegation was reported by Al Jazeera and shared by Baghaei through a social media post.

In his post, Baghaei shared a video of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Lebanon was not included in the two-week ceasefire agreement. Baghaei questioned whether this statement represented an early-stage breach of the agreement by the United States. A day earlier, he had also shared a post from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which claimed that both Iran and the United States had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon.

The exchange highlights growing diplomatic tension surrounding the scope and interpretation of the ceasefire, particularly regarding Lebanon’s inclusion in the agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the United States and that Israel’s ongoing war against Hezbollah there must stop. He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, citing Al Jazeera as the source of the report.

Araghchi claimed that the inclusion of Lebanon was already part of prior understandings, contradicting Israel’s recent statements. He said the world is witnessing genocide in Lebanon and that it is now up to the United States to honor its commitments. He also suggested that easing regional tensions requires addressing the situation in both Gaza and Lebanon as part of any ceasefire talks.

According to the report, on the first day of the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli attacks in Lebanon killed 254 people and injured 1,165, even though Hezbollah had halted its strikes on Israel in observance of the truce.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir regarding what he described as Israel’s violations of a ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon. The discussion was disclosed by Araghchi through the messaging platform Telegram.

According to Araghchi’s post, he expressed gratitude to Pakistan for what he called the country’s effective efforts to promote peace, security, and an end to hostilities in the region. The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding ceasefire arrangements and regional stability.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not provide further details on the content of the conversation or any subsequent diplomatic steps following the call.

An attack struck Iran’s Lavan oil refinery on Wednesday morning, hours after the United States announced a ceasefire. According to a statement from the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, the incident occurred at 6:30 GMT (10:00 local time) on Lavan Island. Security and firefighting teams were deployed to control the situation and extinguish the fire. The company confirmed that no casualties had been reported, as workers were evacuated in time.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, noted that the attack came amid heightened regional tensions despite the U.S. ceasefire declaration. The refinery is part of Iran’s key oil infrastructure, and the incident underscores ongoing instability affecting energy facilities in the region.

Authorities have not yet disclosed who was responsible for the attack or the extent of the damage, leaving uncertainty about potential disruptions to oil production or exports.

Iran may reopen the Strait of Hormuz as early as Thursday or Friday if a ceasefire framework is finalized before the upcoming meeting between Iran and the United States in Pakistan, according to a senior Iranian official cited by Reuters. The official said the reopening process will be coordinated with Iran’s military forces to ensure safe navigation for commercial vessels.

The Strait of Hormuz was previously closed by Iran during the ongoing conflict, causing significant disruption and volatility in global oil and gas markets. As part of the ceasefire understanding with the United States, Tehran has agreed to allow commercial shipping to resume safely through the strategic waterway.

The decision to reopen the strait marks a potential easing of tensions that have affected global energy supplies, though the final timing depends on the completion of the ceasefire framework.

A large-scale conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched major attacks on Iran on February 28, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated, sparking a regional war that has left thousands dead across the Middle East, with most casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 3,636 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, including more than 150 in attacks on girls’ schools. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported at least 1,900 deaths in Iran. Lebanese authorities said 1,530 people, including 129 children, were killed by Israeli strikes since March 2. Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers died in southern Lebanon, while Iraq reported 117 deaths. Israel’s ambulance service confirmed 23 deaths from Iranian and Lebanese missile attacks, and its military reported 11 soldiers killed. The US Central Command said 13 American soldiers were killed and over 300 wounded.

Casualties were also reported in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and northern Iraq, underscoring the widespread regional impact of the conflict.

According to data from shipping software company AXS Marine released last night, a total of 1,441 ships were waiting on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz. Of these, 959 vessels were positioned on the western side inside the Gulf, while 621 ships were waiting on the eastern side to either load gas, fuel oil, chemicals, or dry cargo, or to deliver goods to Gulf countries.

AXS Marine reported that since the war began on February 28, no LNG carriers have crossed the strait. Many ships had turned off communication systems to conceal their positions and avoid potential attacks. Between March 23 and April 6, only 51 tankers passed through the strait, including 15 carrying crude oil and nine transporting chemicals. Before the conflict, an average of 51 ships crossed the strait daily, indicating a sharp decline in traffic.

Before the ceasefire announced last night, Iran allowed ships owned by China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to pass. Following diplomatic discussions, Malaysia and Thailand were also granted permission, and on April 2, Philippine-flagged vessels received clearance.

Iran has proposed a ten-point plan ahead of talks scheduled to begin Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, with two key points directly challenging the US naval presence in the Middle East. Tehran intends to impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and seeks the removal of US military forces from the region. The proposal raises questions about whether the toll would also apply to warships.

The move poses a serious challenge for the US Fifth Fleet, which is responsible for securing vast maritime areas including the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. The fleet also oversees critical chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to research fellow Collin Koh of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, any toll requirement would hinder US military operations in the Gulf.

Koh added that unless former US President Donald Trump changes the overall posture of US Central Command in the Middle East, Washington would find it impossible to accept such a toll system.