Iran Rejects Trump’s Economic Offer as Tensions Rise After Beirut Strike

Iran and the United States were locked in a tense standoff on Sunday evening after Washington reportedly sought to prevent an Iranian strike on Israel by offering economic benefits. Israeli reports said Trump was preparing to signal that he was “giving something” to Tehran in exchange for restraint after the strike in Beirut’s Dahieh district, but Iranian officials said they had rejected the proposal.

Tehran’s response was blunt. Iranian figures said Trump had offered money for restraint, but they “rejected it” and would “respond very soon.” They added, “We will not betray our people.” Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, also threatened to halt talks with the United States, saying the Israeli “violation of the border” showed Washington either would not or could not honor its commitments.

Other Iranian officials also linked any understanding with Washington to punishment of Israel. Lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei warned against miscalculation after the Israeli strike and said any deal or understanding with the US would have to come through what he called punishment of Israel. Rezaei had issued a similar threat last week, which was carried out hours later.

The Israeli strike on Dahieh took place early Sunday afternoon, hitting a Hezbollah terrorist target in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Loud explosions were heard in the district. The strike followed Hezbollah fire at northern Israeli communities, and Israeli officials had repeatedly warned that attacks on Israel would bring retaliation in Dahieh. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army had struck Hezbollah terror targets in Beirut in response to fire on Israeli territory, adding, “Israel will not tolerate fire on its territory.” Security officials in Israel remained on high alert, fearing another Iranian response.