Senior Iranian officials issued strong warnings on Sunday after an Israeli airstrike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, raising fresh concerns about efforts to secure a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East.
The comments came as expectations grew that a US-Iran deal could be finalized soon. However, the latest violence in Lebanon has created new uncertainty around the negotiations.
Iran Warns Strike Will Not Go Unanswered
Brigadier General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of Iran’s highest military command, said Tehran would respond to the attack. Speaking to Defa Press news agency, Asadi said, “Without a doubt, these crimes will not go unanswered.”
His remarks signaled Iran’s anger over the strike and suggested the incident could trigger further tensions in the region.
Chief Negotiator Questions Future of Talks
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also reacted sharply to the attack. He argued that the strike undermined confidence in the diplomatic process and questioned whether continuing negotiations with the United States still made sense.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf wrote: “The Zionists’ aggression against Dahieh once again showed that the United States either lacks the will to implement its commitments or lacks the ability to do so.”
He further added: “If you do not have the will or the ability to fulfil your commitments, then there is no point in talking about continuing down this path.”
His comments reflected growing frustration within Iran over Washington’s role in the region and raised doubts about the future of the ongoing peace efforts.
Israeli Strike Hits Beirut Suburbs
The statements followed an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier on Sunday. The attack marked the second strike in the area within a week.
Israel said it launched the operation in response to what it described as Hezbollah fire directed toward northern Israel. The Israeli military also carried out additional strikes in southern Lebanon.
Casualties Reported in Hezbollah Stronghold
Lebanon’s civil defence agency reported casualties from the attack. According to officials, the strike hit the Ghobeiry district, an area widely known as a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut.
The agency said rescue teams recovered “the bodies of three martyrs were recovered from under the rubble and six wounded” and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Emergency crews continued operations at the site following the attack.
Peace Deal Faces Fresh Challenges
The latest escalation comes at a sensitive moment in regional diplomacy. US President Donald Trump recently indicated that a deal aimed at ending the conflict could be signed soon. However, Iran has repeatedly stated that any broader agreement must include a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The renewed violence now threatens to complicate those negotiations. With Iran warning of a response and senior officials questioning the value of continued talks, the Beirut strike has emerged as a major obstacle to efforts aimed at securing a diplomatic breakthrough in the region.