Iran Questions US Reliability After Beirut Strike as Israel Intensifies Pressure on Hezbollah Amid Draft Nuclear Deal Talks
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Israeli operation suggested that the United States either lacked the willingness or the capability to honour its commitments.
In a strongly worded statement, he accused Washington of effectively giving Israel a “green light” to continue military actions while simultaneously seeking concessions from Iran at the negotiating table.
Ghalibaf dismissed what he described as a “good cop, bad cop” approach, arguing that Tehran would not separate Israeli military operations from broader American policy in the region.
He warned that if the United States was unable to ensure compliance with its commitments, continuing on the diplomatic path would become increasingly difficult.
Israel Strikes Beirut as Draft Agreement Nears Completion
The latest tensions emerged as reports indicated that a draft understanding between the United States and Iran was moving closer to finalisation.
The Israeli military announced that it had conducted what it described as a “precise strike” targeting a Hezbollah command centre in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh.
The operation marked another escalation in Israel’s confrontation with the Lebanese armed group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz later confirmed the strike, stating that it was carried out in response to Hezbollah attacks against Israeli territory.
In a joint statement, Israeli authorities reiterated that Israel would not tolerate attacks originating from Lebanon and would continue to respond militarily to any threats directed at its citizens and territory.
Draft US-Iran Understanding Covers Nuclear Programme, Hormuz and Sanctions
Amid the renewed military tensions, a senior Iranian official outlined what Tehran says are the key provisions of a draft memorandum of understanding currently being discussed with the United States.
According to the official, the proposed framework would include commitments related to Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the reported terms, Iran would agree not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons and would maintain its current nuclear activities without expansion until a final agreement is reached.
The draft also reportedly requires Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping immediately. In return, the United States would lift naval restrictions affecting Iranian ports and move toward easing economic pressure through sanctions relief measures.
Key Developments in the Ongoing Crisis
Iran has stated that the latest Israeli strike in Beirut has increased uncertainty regarding Washington’s commitments and the broader diplomatic process.
Israel maintains that its operation targeted a Hezbollah command facility in Dahiyeh and was conducted in response to attacks launched from Lebanon.
Iranian officials have indicated that, under the proposed framework, Tehran would temporarily halt uranium enrichment activities while negotiations continue toward a comprehensive agreement.
The draft understanding reportedly includes provisions addressing sanctions relief, restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.
US President Donald Trump has said that an agreement to end the conflict could be signed as early as Sunday. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be fully accessible to international shipping once the agreement takes effect.
Trump has further claimed that the United States would ultimately gain control of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium as part of the final arrangement.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the proposed Sunday timeline, insisting that while progress has been made, a formal agreement is more likely to be concluded in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued military operations in southern Lebanon on Saturday, even as Tehran has repeatedly argued that any regional ceasefire arrangement should also include an end to Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory.
Adding another significant development, Iranian state media announced that funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, will begin in Tehran on July 4.
According to the announcement, he will be buried in Mashhad on July 9, while his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been leading the country since March.
With diplomatic negotiations and military operations unfolding simultaneously, the region remains on edge as international observers closely watch whether the emerging US-Iran framework can survive mounting geopolitical tensions.
