"Hands on the Trigger": Iran’s President Vows to Defend Lebanon Despite Ceasefire
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon are a blatant violation of the ceasefire that could make future negotiations "meaningless."
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is facing a major crisis as the Iranian leadership threatens to walk away from the negotiating table. President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which resulted in over 250 deaths in a single day, constitute a "gross violation" of the initial understandings. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran will not abandon the Lebanese people and warned that his military maintains its "hands on the trigger" if the attacks do not cease. This diplomatic standoff has placed immense pressure on mediators, with Pakistan working frantically to save the peace process before it completely collapses.
The Pakistani Mediation and the 10-Point Plan
According to senior Iranian officials, the regime was on the verge of launching a retaliatory strike against Israel on Wednesday night but was persuaded to hold back following direct intervention by the Pakistani government. Islamabad has requested more time to salvage the ceasefire, serving as a primary conduit for messages between Tehran and Washington. However, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set a firm condition for its participation in the upcoming peace talks in Islamabad, stating that its delegation will only take part if Israel halts its campaign in Lebanon. The regime argues that its "10-point plan" for peace explicitly includes Lebanon as a central component of any comprehensive ceasefire.
The distrust toward the American administration remains high in Tehran, where military spokesmen have described President Trump as "completely unreliable." Despite the current pause in direct U.S. strikes, the Iranian military remains on high alert, with officials stating that their ears are "ready for the orders of the Supreme Commander." The Iranian leadership claims it only agreed to the ceasefire because the U.S. had reportedly acknowledged the 10-point package, but they now view the continued war in Lebanon as a sign of American and Israeli deception. As the "critical hours" approach, the regional mediators are struggling to bridge the gap between Iran’s demand for a total cessation of hostilities and the American position that Israel maintains the right to defend itself against Hezbollah.