Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf escalated his rhetoric against the United States and Israel on Sunday, declaring that Tehran no longer considers the two countries’ assets in the region immune from attack. He said the naval blockade on Iran and continued Israeli activity in Lebanon prove both sides “are not committed to a ceasefire and do not believe in dialogue.”
Ghalibaf claimed the naval blockade imposed on Iran and recent developments in Lebanon demonstrate that Washington and Jerusalem are not committed to ceasefire agreements and are not working toward a diplomatic solution.
“They are not committed to a ceasefire and do not believe in dialogue, and through the naval blockade and violation of agreements regarding Lebanon they have proven that they only understand the language of force,” Ghalibaf wrote. “The naval blockade against the Iranian people and the green light that the United States gave today to the Zionist regime turn American and regime bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets. The hands of our armed forces are free, as they have always been.”
The statement follows a series of declarations by Ghalibaf over the past week in which he accused the United States of violating ceasefire understandings due to the naval blockade and continued Israeli activity in Lebanon. On several occasions he hinted that continued fighting in Lebanon could lead to a halt in diplomatic contacts and an escalation of regional confrontation.
Disagreements over implementing ceasefires in the region continue in the background, with Iranian officials repeatedly claiming that any future agreement must include a halt to strikes in Lebanon. Israel, meanwhile, continues to make clear it will act against security threats from Hezbollah wherever necessary.