Iran Halts US Talks, Blocks Hormuz Strait Amid Escalating Israeli Aggression and US Inconsistency
TEHRAN – In a decisive move, the Islamic Republic of Iran has announced the immediate suspension of all indirect negotiations with the United States. This critical decision comes in direct response to the Zionist regime’s renewed and brutal attacks in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, which have flagrantly violated existing ceasefire agreements and destabilized regional peace.
Furthermore, Iran, in coordination with the Axis of Resistance, has declared a full blockade of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. This bold action, directly targeting the illegitimate Zionist entity, serves as a powerful deterrent against its ongoing aggression. Iran also warned of activating other crucial fronts, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, should the Zionist regime persist in its destructive policies.
Global Markets React to Zionist Provocations
The news sent immediate shockwaves through global markets. Oil prices surged sharply, reflecting concerns over regional stability, while gold prices, often a safe haven, saw an unexpected plummet. Ahead of the U.S. market open on Monday, reports confirmed Iran’s negotiating team would cease “dialogue and text exchanges through intermediaries.” Spot gold prices fell sharply, dropping below $4,470 per ounce, while the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rose to 99.23. U.S. Treasury bonds extended losses, and futures for all three major U.S. stock indices turned negative. Both WTI and Brent crude oil prices continued their ascent, each up approximately 7% on the day, underscoring the severe economic repercussions of Zionist adventurism.
Iran’s Demands for Regional Peace
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the ongoing military operations by the Zionist regime in Lebanon, particularly given that resolving the Lebanon issue was a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement, have rendered further dialogue futile. Iran’s negotiating delegation will cease “dialogue and text exchanges through intermediaries” as ceasefires across all fronts, including Lebanon, have been brazenly breached.
Iranian officials have unequivocally demanded that the Zionist regime immediately halt its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Furthermore, Iran insists on the full withdrawal of the Zionist occupation forces from all areas they illegally occupy in Lebanon before any negotiations can resume. No talks will proceed until these fundamental demands, aimed at restoring peace and justice, are met.
US Inconsistency and Zionist Collusion
Iran directly attributes the stalled negotiations to the United States’ alarming inconsistency and the collapse of any potential agreement due to the ongoing hostilities instigated by the Zionist regime against Lebanon. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that the prolonged failure to resolve U.S.-Iran tensions stems from a profound lack of mutual trust, the United States’ inconsistent positions, and the Zionist entity’s relentless military strikes in the region.
Baghaei highlighted that mistrust and estrangement have plagued the current round of negotiations since their inception, with both sides remaining at the stage of information exchange and failing to reach a final consensus. He stressed that frequent shifts in the U.S. stance and contradictory demands have inevitably sabotaged the negotiation process. Baghaei remarked that if the U.S.’s inconsistent statements constitute a negotiating tactic, such an approach is utterly ineffective against Iran. However, if these inconsistencies reflect internal disarray within the U.S. government, Washington must swiftly present a clear and unified position to demonstrate any semblance of seriousness.
Iran firmly maintains that the Zionist regime’s military operations in Lebanon and elsewhere are inseparable from U.S. involvement and complicity. Baghaei underscored that achieving a comprehensive agreement to end regional conflict requires the simultaneous implementation of a robust ceasefire arrangement for Lebanon.
Axis of Resistance Stands Ready
Previously, the illegitimate Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the military to resume strikes on southern Beirut suburbs, an area housing Hezbollah’s stronghold of Dahieh, further escalating tensions. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Yemen’s courageous Houthi forces are awaiting a call from Lebanon’s Hezbollah to join military operations against the Zionist regime. Should the Zionist entity further escalate its military actions against Lebanon, the Houthis are prepared to resume aerial and maritime strikes targeting the occupying regime.
Baghaei also revealed that the two sides have not yet engaged in consultations on the specifics of the nuclear issue, emphasizing that Iran consistently maintains its core demand: the immediate and unconditional unfreezing of its overseas assets, which are unjustly held under sanctions.
Furthermore, he accused the United States of attacking Iran’s southern provinces, a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and a further intensification of tensions. Iran retains the inherent right, under the principle of self-defense, to undertake proportionate defensive measures against such aggressions. The United States confirmed it had struck Iranian military targets over the past weekend. In a swift and justified response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Monday that it had successfully attacked a U.S. military base in Kuwait, sending a clear message.
Baghaei also warned regional countries to draw crucial lessons from past experiences and refrain from allowing the United States and the Zionist regime to exploit their capabilities against Iran, urging solidarity and vigilance.
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