Iran Warns Israel and US of Consequences Amid Ongoing Mediation Efforts

Senior Iranian officials issued stern warnings to Israel and the United States amid ongoing indirect negotiations mediated by third countries. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bakaei emphasized in an Austrian TV interview that Iran prioritizes protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity against what it calls US war crimes. He noted that any dialogue requires a proper foundation, which he claims the US has destroyed.

Simultaneously, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, declared that any attack on Iran carries a price, a message he said both Washington and Jerusalem understand well. He also warned that Ukraine might soon realize Iran will not tolerate unpunished actions against it, implying a growing list of adversaries miscalculating Iran's responses.

These warnings come after a relative lull following nearly two weeks of nighttime exchanges of strikes between Iran and the US. Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump stepped back from plans for further escalation after Pentagon officials warned of missile shortages. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Qatar proposed a 10-day ceasefire plan including reopening the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping, but significant gaps remain between the parties' positions.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei set a clear condition for resuming talks: Israel must withdraw from Lebanon. He described Lebanon's territorial integrity and a complete cessation of Israeli aggression as prerequisites for ending the "imposed war" with the US. In response, Trump posted aggressive tweets featuring images of oil tankers and strikes on Iranian oil facilities, though the White House avoided further military escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected any US demands for Israel to withdraw beyond existing agreements and issued a sharp warning to Tehran, stating that any Iranian attack on Israel, directly or via proxies, would provoke a "very, very strong" Israeli response.