Maha Christopher
United States President Donald Trump has warned Iran against supporting Hezbollah activities in Lebanon, threatening further military action if Tehran fails to restrain the group.
According to AFP, Trump issued the warning on Sunday as peace talks between senior US and Iranian officials commenced in Switzerland amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” he added.
The talks come against the backdrop of recent clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, raising concerns about the stability of a preliminary peace agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.
At least 30 people were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Saturday before fighting subsided later in the day following orders for Israeli forces to halt hostilities.
The memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran on Wednesday includes provisions for a cessation of hostilities across various fronts, including Lebanon.
Speaking at the opening of the talks in Switzerland, US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about the situation, saying progress had been made in preserving the ceasefire.
“I’ve seen great progress in the last just couple of days in ensuring that the ceasefire holds in Lebanon,” Vance said.
“We’re all working towards regional peace. I actually feel great about where we are in Lebanon. There’s still some additional work to do, but we’re going to keep on working at it.”
Vance also maintained that the Trump administration had played a significant role in reducing tensions in Lebanon and promoting regional stability in recent months.
The negotiations are expected to focus on maintaining the ceasefire, easing regional tensions and strengthening diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.
