Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran to immediately rein in its allied groups in Lebanon, threatening fresh military action against Tehran even as US and Iranian negotiators continued talks aimed at easing tensions across the Middle East.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump issued one of his strongest warnings since the latest round of diplomacy began in Switzerland.
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“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump wrote.
The warning landed at a delicate moment for the diplomatic process. US and Iranian officials are currently meeting in Switzerland under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this month, which laid out a framework for broader negotiations on regional security, Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and ceasefires across multiple fronts. The agreement envisioned a 60-day period of negotiations aimed at reducing tensions and building toward a more permanent settlement.
Speaking after talks in Switzerland, US Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration had made progress in efforts to preserve a ceasefire in Lebanon, though he admitted the situation remained delicate.
“We’ve seen great progress over the last couple of days in ensuring ceasefire in Lebanon holds,” Vance said, adding that “these kinds of ceasefires are always a little bit messy.”
ALL EYES ON LEBANON CEASEFIRE
Speaking after talks in Switzerland, US Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration had made progress in efforts to preserve a ceasefire in Lebanon, though he admitted the situation remained delicate.
“We’ve seen great progress over the last couple of days in ensuring ceasefire in Lebanon holds,” Vance said, adding that “these kinds of ceasefires are always a little bit messy.”
Vance said Trump is committed to securing a broader regional truce and viewed the Lebanon ceasefire as a critical step toward a settlement.
The US Vice President also described the negotiations as an opportunity to reshape relations across the Middle East, saying the administration hoped to “turn over a new leaf” with Iran if Tehran abandoned policies Washington sees as destabilising.
WHAT IRAN IS DEMANDING
Iran is unwilling to move ahead with the next phase of negotiations unless several conditions are met.
Tehran has insisted that the Israeli attack on Lebanon must end before substantive talks can resume, particularly discussions related to its nuclear programme.
Iranian officials have also demanded the delivery of economic benefits promised under recent understandings with Washington and its partners. They blamed the US for failing to halt hostilities in Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading attacks since March.
The talks have also been complicated by Iran’s decision to reimpose its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. The move came despite a memorandum of understanding reached earlier this month that envisioned reopening the waterway and reducing tensions across the region.
Iran has linked all of its cooperation to progress on Lebanon and economic commitments.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
