Iran warns of 'regret-inducing response' if Israel continues Lebanon strikes

Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed following Israeli strikes on Lebanon, despite a newly agreed ceasefire, according to Iranian state media.

The two-week conditional ceasefire between the United States and Iran, agreed only hours earlier, included provisions for the temporary reopening of the vital maritime route.

However, the strait remained effectively shut, with no immediate increase in shipping traffic reported after the announcement.

Tehran said on Wednesday it would coordinate with its armed forces to allow safe passage through the channel. But Iran’s coast guard warned that any vessel attempting to pass without authorisation would be “targeted and destroyed”.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, and any disruption is likely to have significant global economic implications.

The developments come as Israel launched a series of large-scale strikes across Lebanon, reportedly killing more than 250 people. US President Donald Trump later clarified Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire agreement.

In a separate statement carried by state media, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would deliver a “regret-inducing response” if Israeli attacks on Lebanon did not stop immediately.

Earlier, Israel said it had carried out its “biggest strike” since the start of its ground operation in Lebanon. Israeli and US officials have both stated that Lebanon is not covered by the current ceasefire deal with Iran.