Iran says it remains at negotiating table despite renewed Israel tensions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran remains committed to negotiations with the United States despite renewed tensions with Israel.

In a post shared on X after Iran and Israel exchanged strikes on Monday morning, Pezeshkian said Iran had not stepped away from diplomacy or military action.

“Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power. We have neither left the battlefield nor abandoned the negotiating table”, he wtrote.

The comments came as Iran announced it had suspended military operations against Israel but warned that attacks could resume if Israeli strikes continue, including operations in southern Lebanon.

According to Tasnim news agency, Iran’s military said: “The powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, delivered a painful response to this regime (Israel).”

“Should the aggressions and hostile acts continue – including in southern Lebanon – far more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming,” the statement added.

Israel also signalled it would continue operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

An Israeli official told CNN that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office informed ministers that Israel “will not accept the regime in Tehran’s attempt to create a new equation,” in which Israeli strikes in Beirut are followed by Iranian attacks on Israeli population centres.

Israel added: “We will continue to operate throughout Lebanon, as required, to remove the Hezbollah terror threat to our citizens.”