Iran may withdraw from ceasefire over Israel's attacks on Lebanon

(Sharecast News) - Iran threatened on Wednesday to withdraw from the two-week ceasefire it has only just agreed with the US, if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon. According to reports, Iran has stopped oil tankers passing through the vital Strait of Hormuz, breaching the terms of the ceasefire.

The country's state media said traffic was stopped after Israel carried out its heaviest strikes yet in this conflict against Lebanon. On Wednesday afternoon, Israel hit 100 targets in just 10 minutes. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 wounded.

Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, said: "Iran called this a ceasefire violation and said that it would weigh its response to Israel's actions. Iran also threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire if Israeli attacks continued."

News that Iran has halted Hormuz traffic came as US President Donald Trump confirmed that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire.

Speaking to PBS News Hour, Trump said the conflict between Israel and Lebanon was a "separate skirmish".