‘No dialogue under ongoing aggression’: Iran freezes US communications over Lebanon offensive

Iran has suspended its indirect message exchanges and diplomatic communications with the United States through intermediaries, citing continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon and what it described as repeated violations of ceasefire understandings linked to ongoing regional negotiations.

According to information reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian negotiation team has decided to halt “dialogues and text exchanges through intermediaries” after concluding that conditions tied to the broader ceasefire framework had been violated. Iranian sources indicated that developments in Lebanon played a central role in the decision.

The move comes amid escalating tensions across the Middle East, where military activity involving Israel, Lebanon, Iran and the United States has intensified despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a wider regional conflict.

Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains a key condition for any broader agreement involving Washington. Tehran argues that continued Israeli military operations in Lebanese territory undermine trust and weaken ongoing diplomatic efforts. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei recently stated that Lebanon was an inseparable part of any final arrangement aimed at ending regional hostilities.

According to Tasnim-linked reports, Iranian negotiators believe that understandings connected to the ceasefire have been violated “on all fronts, including Lebanon,” prompting the decision to stop communication exchanges through mediators. While formal negotiations had already been proceeding indirectly, primarily through regional intermediaries, Iranian officials now appear to be taking a harder public position.

The development follows renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon, including strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas linked to Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently vowed to expand military operations in Lebanon, arguing that security objectives have not yet been achieved. These developments have triggered strong reactions from Tehran, which has accused Israel of violating previous ceasefire arrangements.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have remained strained despite intermittent diplomatic contacts in recent months. Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the United States of sending contradictory signals during negotiations and changing positions on key issues. Tehran has also linked progress in discussions to broader regional developments, including Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

The latest decision comes only days after heightened military tensions between the two countries. US Central Command reported intercepting two Iranian ballistic missiles allegedly targeting American forces in Kuwait, while Iran accused the United States of carrying out military strikes against Iranian positions and violating previous understandings. These incidents have further complicated diplomatic efforts already facing significant challenges.

Regional mediators have been attempting to maintain communication channels between Tehran and Washington to prevent a wider conflict and preserve fragile diplomatic progress. However, Iran’s decision to suspend message exchanges signals growing frustration within the Iranian leadership over the current trajectory of events in Lebanon and the broader region.

Neither the White House nor the US State Department immediately issued an official response to the reported suspension of communications. The development is expected to increase uncertainty surrounding ongoing diplomatic efforts as regional tensions continue to rise across multiple fronts.