Iran claims US is directly responsible for ceasefire violations

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghei said that the United States bears direct responsibility for the new ceasefire violation and that Israel's actions cannot be separated from American policy.

"The actions of the Zionist entity in the region cannot be viewed separately from the United States of America," Bagay said at a press conference, Al Jazeera reported.

He pointed out that Iran and Pakistan, which is mediating the negotiations, have reiterated that Lebanon is an integral and inseparable part of the ceasefire agreement, and that Tehran cannot allow Israel, which it does not call by name in the statements but rather a "Zionist entity", or the US to undermine this part of the agreement.

"The events of the past day will certainly increase suspicions. We have already exchanged messages with the American side in an atmosphere of extreme distrust. The US's contradictions to date, whether intentional or unintentional, have caused enough chaos in the diplomatic process," he said.

He also accused the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, of "continuing to ignore the reality of the conflict" and of being biased.

"He is acting with a deliberate bias against Iran and the Iranian nuclear issue," Bagey said.

In the war that began with US-Israeli air strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader on February 28, two ceasefires are currently in place — in Iran and Lebanon — and both have been called into question again after mutual airstrikes today.

The US-Iran ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump on April 7, has largely held, although there have been several attacks from both sides. The one in Lebanon has been violated by Israel several times.

The latest escalation came after the US president said yesterday that new attacks by Israel and Iran would not affect his administration's peace talks with Tehran.