US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran on Sunday if it did not stop Hezbollah from causing trouble. This warning came amid ongoing clashes in southern Lebanon, where the Israeli army has continued strikes in response to projectiles fired by the Iran-backed group.
The tensions coincided with the start of peace talks between senior US and Iranian officials in Switzerland. Although a memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday stipulated a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, the continuing violence has threatened to derail the preliminary peace deal between Washington and Tehran.
In response to the threats, Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the US to be careful with its statements and asserted that Iran does not take American threats into account. Following President Trump's threat of fresh strikes over Hezbollah's actions, Iran has halted talks with the United States.