BY OUR FOREIGN STAFF
A SHAKY ceasefire between the US and Iran was hanging by a thread last night after a wave of “savage” Israeli airstrikes rocked Lebanon.
Furious Iranian chiefs have warned Washington that the “ball is in their court” and they must choose between peace or a return to all-out war.
The war of words erupted just hours after a historic 10-point peace plan, brokered by Pakistan, was supposed to silence the guns across the Middle East.
‘World is Watching’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lashed out on social media, accusing the Americans of trying to have their cake and eat it.
”The US must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel,” he blasted. “It cannot have both. The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The world is watching.”
The drama began on Wednesday when Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif sent shockwaves through the globe by announcing a “breakthrough” deal. He claimed both sides had agreed to stop fighting “everywhere including Lebanon” with immediate effect.
But as the ink was still drying on the pact, Israeli jets were reportedly screaming across the border to pound targets in Lebanon.
The ‘Blame Game’
Now, a massive row has broken out over what the deal actually covers.
While Tehran insists the truce includes their allies in Lebanon, the US and Israel have reportedly sparked fury by claiming the ceasefire doesn’t apply there.
Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei didn’t mince his words, branding the move a “renege” on their promises.
He said: “The US pledged that both it and its allies will observe the ceasefire across all fronts. The responsibility for any violation by the Zionist regime rests with the United States.”
This latest crisis follows weeks of soaring tensions that have pushed the Middle East to the brink of a catastrophic “forever war.”
The Plan: A 10-point peace proposal drafted by Iran and championed by Pakistan.
The Terms: A two-week “pause” in hostilities intended to allow for high-level peace talks in Islamabad this Friday.
The Sticking Point: Lebanon. Iran views the ceasefire as a total region-wide halt; the US and Israel appear to view it as a direct deal between Washington and Tehran only, leaving Israel free to continue its “surgical strikes” against Hezbollah.
With peace talks scheduled for tomorrow, the world is holding its breath to see if the diplomats can stop the “Islamabad Talks” from turning into an “Islamabad Trainwreck.”
