Iran warns US, Israel: Retaliation imminent after Beirut strikes

Iran has threatened the United States and Israel with retaliation following fresh Israeli strikes on Beirut, raising fears of a wider escalation as the Middle East war enters its 100th day. Tehran described the attacks as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a trigger for a “full-scale resumption” of hostilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the army had struck a militant command centre in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district in response to Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel. While cross-border exchanges are routine, southern Beirut — a Hezbollah stronghold — has been hit only twice since mid-April.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator with Washington, accused the United States of giving a “green light” to the Beirut attack. “This turns the bases and assets of America and the (Israeli) regime in the region into legitimate targets. Our armed forces, as always, are free to act,” he said.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, warned of a “decisive and painful response,” adding, “These rabid dogs must be disciplined… Look at the sky over the occupied lands tonight,” in reference to Israel.

Iran has linked the Lebanon conflict to ongoing US sanctions and a blockade of Iranian ports, complicating negotiations aimed at ending hostilities. Military adviser Mohsen Rezaei described talks with Washington as at a “deadlock,” demanding the release of $24 billion in frozen assets. President Donald Trump, however, said funds would not be unblocked until an agreement was reached.

Amid mounting tensions, Pakistani officials have been mediating between Tehran and Washington. Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, visited Tehran carrying messages from both the army chief and the prime minister, while Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal travelled to Pakistan for related talks.

The conflict has compounded economic hardship for Iranians. Elaheh, a fitness trainer from Ahvaz, told AFP, “I really have gone numb… Everything is horrible. We only try to survive.” Farhad, a 35-year-old chef, added, “Things that just a few months ago you might have considered buying have now become dreams and fairy tales.”

The military standoff has also escalated in the Gulf. US Central Command said it destroyed two Iranian drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, following a missile salvo from Tehran at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait.