[News] Lebanon included, choose - ceasefire or continued war: Araghchi to US

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/lebanon-included---choose--ceasefire-or-continued-war---arag>
Lebanon included, choose - ceasefire or continued war: Araghchi to US
Al Mayadeen English
April 8, 2026
------------------------------

Iran says the US must choose between a ceasefire and war as Israeli strikes
on Lebanon continue, warning violations could threaten the fragile truce.

   - [image: Rescuers rescue an injured man from a destroyed building that
   was hit in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026
   (AP)]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2026/4/8/fcfbcf61-4327-43e7-814b-89bceb464478.jpg?width=1000>
   Rescuers rescue an injured man from a destroyed building that was hit in an
   Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026 (*AP*)

The terms of the Iran-US ceasefire are “clear and explicit,” Iran’s Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi said, stressing that Washington must choose between
upholding the agreement
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hezbollah-condemns-iof-massacres--vows-victims--blood-won-t>
or allowing continued military action through "Israel".

In a post on X on Wednesday, Araghchi stated that the United States “cannot
have both”
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-any-attack-on-hezbollah-is-an-attack-on-iran---irgc-chief>
a ceasefire and ongoing war, as Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued
despite the truce framework, which includes Lebanon, whereby "Israel" has
to halt attacks.

He added that the situation in Lebanon is being closely monitored
internationally
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-conditions-talks-with-us-on-lebanon-ceasefire--wsj>,
saying “the world sees the massacres in Lebanon,” and emphasized that "the
ball is in the US court, and the world is watching whether it will act on
its commitments."

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei
said the United States would share responsibility for any violations of the
ceasefire by "Israel"
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iraqi-resistance-chief---israel--must-pay-for-aggression-on>
.

Speaking to *IRNA*, Baghaei stated that “the responsibility for any breach
of the ceasefire
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemen--we-stand-by-lebanon--hezbollah-not-alone-on-battlefie>
by the Zionist entity also lies with the United States.”

He added that Washington had committed to ensuring compliance across all
fronts, saying, “As explicitly stated in the initial post by the Prime
Minister of Pakistan, the United States pledged that it and its allies
would adhere to the ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
Tehran currently studying how to respond to Israeli violations

Iran warned that continued Israeli attacks
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/ceasefire-for-all-or-for-none--iran-shuts-hormuz-over-lebano>
on Lebanon could jeopardize the ceasefire agreement with the United States,
as a member of the Iranian presidential office outlined Tehran’s position
in an interview.

Speaking to *Al Mayadeen*, Abbas Mousavi said the terms of the emerging
agreement between Tehran and Washington require an end to the attacks on
Lebanon, stressing that Iran had “clearly affirmed that Lebanon, Yemen, and
our friends must be included in the ceasefire agreement” and that “the
Zionists must stop their attacks on Lebanon.”

He said Tehran is “currently studying how to respond
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-commit-harrowing-massacres-across-lebanon--kill--injure>
to violations of the ceasefire,” warning that “as long as the ceasefire
does not hold for our friends, Iran will defend them."

"Iran will respond to a breach of the ceasefire with a breach of the
ceasefire," he stated.
'Israel' will always work to undermine any move toward peace

Mousavi placed responsibility on the United States
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-is-superior-in-war--us---israel--dealt--strategic-defea>
and "Israel" alike, stating that “since the beginning of the aggression
against Iran, we have affirmed that Israel and the United States initiated
the aggression, but they will not be the ones to end it.” He added that
“the Zionists always work to undermine any move toward calm” and warned
that “if the Americans and the Zionists renege on their commitments, we
will respond.”

He also said Iran had informed mediators that it remains committed to the
agreement, stating, “We do not renege on our commitments, and they must act
seriously to compel the enemies to adhere to theirs,” emphasizing that
“among the enemies’ obligations in the agreement is to stop attacks on our
friends.”
Ceasefire faces risks if 'Israel' continues to attack Lebanon

Mousavi cautioned that “if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/netanyahu-unilaterally-declares-lebanon-outside-of-ceasefire>,
the ceasefire agreement is at jeopardy,” describing the truce as “fragile”
and warning that continued strikes threaten its stability.

On the regional level, he said Iran had “warned neighboring countries
repeatedly that US bases on their territory are used for launching attacks
against us,” while also stating that “Iran is ready to work with
neighboring countries to build a regional security structure” and that they
“will not find a more reliable partner than Iran.”

He added that “in Isfahan, the Americans suffered heavy losses, after which
they resorted to mediation through Türkiye and Pakistan to reach a
ceasefire,” and expressed cautious optimism, saying, “let us be optimistic
about the upcoming negotiations.”

Mousavi also called on US leadership to enforce the agreement, stating that
“Trump must stand up and put an end to Israeli violations if he wants the
ceasefire to hold.”
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