Iran has paused its talks with the United States as of Friday, April 10, amid intensifying Israeli strikes on Lebanon, placing the already fragile two-week ceasefire under increasing strain and fuelling fears of broader regional instability.
According to The Jerusalem Post, negotiations have been suspended until a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is firmly in place.
The truce, mediated by Pakistan, has entered its third day but remains disputed. Tehran maintains that the agreement includes Lebanon, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon”.
Fresh Israeli airstrikes were reported across southern Lebanon on Friday, further weakening the truce and casting doubt on its sustainability.
Meanwhile, Japan announced plans to release an additional 20 days’ worth of oil reserves starting in May, as tensions in the region continue to disrupt global energy supplies. The country, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil, had already begun releasing reserves in mid-March as part of a coordinated international effort.
Oil prices also climbed in early Asian trading, driven by concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose to around $96.75 per barrel, while US crude gained more than 1 percent.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied accusations of launching attacks in the Gulf, following claims by Kuwait. In a statement, the IRGC suggested that, if such incidents occurred, they could be attributed to Israel or the United States.
On the diplomatic front, more than 60 countries condemned the ongoing strikes in Lebanon, particularly attacks affecting UN peacekeepers. A joint statement highlighted civilian casualties, damage to infrastructure and the displacement of over a million people.
Tehran has made it clear that any future engagement with Washington depends on an immediate halt to Israeli operations in Lebanon, effectively putting diplomatic efforts on hold. Iranian media also dismissed reports of ongoing negotiations, insisting no talks would proceed under current conditions.
