Iran threatens Israel – and cancels flights in the west of the country
According to Iranian state television, all flights in the west of the country have been canceled following an Iranian threat to attack Israel. All flights departing from western Iranian airports have been canceled “until further notice,” state television reported on Sunday evening.
The Iranian National Security Council had previously said a response to the Israeli attack on the pro-Iranian Hezbollah in suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut was imminent. On Sunday morning, the Israeli army carried out air strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, which are among the strongholds of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. The terrorist group had previously attacked Israel with drones.
US President Donald Trump condemned Israel’s counterattack in Lebanon. The attack near Beirut should not have taken place, “especially on a special day when we are so close to a peace agreement with Iran,” the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform.
Peseschkian defends negotiating team against hardliners
Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian has defended Iran’s negotiating team against criticism from hardliners. “Calling the members as traitors to the fatherland is simply unfair and against the country’s national interests,” said Peseschkian.
At night-time meetings in Tehran and other cities on Saturday evening there were violent protests against the two main actors in the Iranian negotiating team, chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “You should be ashamed of yourself” and “Death to compromise makers” were among the central chants of the rallies.
The Iranian president further said that although criticism is legitimate, defamation is not as it can lead to division in society. Moreover, this is exactly what the country’s enemies are waiting for. Political groups in particular that feel committed to the revolution and the system should adhere to the official political course and the associated decisions, said Peseschkian, according to the presidential office’s web portal.
Hezbollah attacks Israel again
The Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah has continued its attacks on northern Israel even after Israeli shelling in Beirut suburbs. A bullet fired from Lebanon landed near the border town of Kiriat Shmona, the Israeli army said in the evening. There were further strikes by “suspicious missiles” on Israeli territory near the border with Lebanon. In addition, several projectiles were fired near Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. There were initially no reports of injuries.
