Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Wednesday night that continued IDF operations in southern Lebanon will be considered a breach of the memorandum of understanding with the United States, and that Tehran would respond accordingly, according to a statement from his office.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaie issued a warning Wednesday night — the third such statement from him in a single day — stating that continued IDF military activity in southern Lebanon would be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States, and that Tehran would take steps in response.
Baghaie's Wednesday night statement caps a rapid escalation of Iranian rhetoric within hours. At 20:58 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported his initial warning that continued Israeli occupation violates the MoU and that Tehran would take necessary measures. Minutes later, at the same timestamp, a second version appeared in which he said Iran is considering having the MoU signed by both nations' presidents. The night warning now explicitly frames any continued IDF activity — not merely occupation — as a violation.
The new statement follows a broader thread that intensified over the week. On Monday, Jun 15 at 19:42 Jerusalem, Baghaie warned the US must enforce Lebanon ceasefire obligations from the MoU and said Iran views ending the war there as inseparable from the broader agreement. On Tuesday, Jun 16 at 14:57 Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said any Israeli strike on Lebanon or continued presence in occupied lands breaches the MoU. A central military command statement at 02:50 Jerusalem Wednesday accused Israel of 84 ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon since Sunday and threatened a 'harsh response.'
Iran has several times conditioned a broader deal with the US on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon — as The Zioneer reported on Tuesday, Jun 16 at 21:17 Jerusalem, quoting Araghchi saying Israel had already rejected this condition. The IRGC on Jun 8 warned any Israeli operation in southern Lebanon would draw a harsher response.
It remains unclear what specific steps Tehran might take. The threats have not been accompanied by any observable change in Iranian military posture, and Iran's escalating verbal warnings have not yet been matched by diplomatic or operational moves that could be independently verified.
4 developments
- StrongIran warns US must enforce Lebanon ceasefire obligations from MoU
- StrongIran's Araghchi: any Israeli strike on Lebanon or remaining in occupied lands breaches MoU
- ConfirmedIDF continues strikes in southern Lebanon despite announced agreement
- DevelopingIran says it will not accept Israeli forces remaining in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake