The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has pointed out that with the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the US, the ongoing military activity in Lebanon by Israel poses a grave risk to this seemingly tenuous ceasefire and overall efforts aimed at achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace in the war-torn region.
It is a fact that a massive wave of Israeli strike on Lebanon has left hundreds of civilians dead and injured, including women and children. In my view, Israel is clearly and overtly playing the spoiler.
Insofar as the likely outcomes of the scheduled talks between Iran and US are concerned, neither side can afford to be seen as a spoiler in the negotiations. The US must, therefore, rein in Israel if it really wants to cut ‘a deal’ with Iran as the latter will never acquiesce to the stepped-up Israeli military campaign in Lebanon. Moreover, the US needs to come clean about Israel’s approach to the ceasefire.
Salim Murad, Ankara
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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