WANA (Jun 07) – Recent Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh have drawn strong reactions from Iranian officials and political figures, with statements ranging from promises of a “decisive and painful response” to warnings that ongoing attacks on Lebanon could jeopardize diplomatic negotiations.

 

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, reacted to the strike in a post on X, stating that Iran would deliver a “decisive and painful response” to the attack on Dahiyeh. Using unusually forceful language, he added that “this rabid dog must be disciplined and put in its place,” and concluded with a warning: “Watch the skies over the occupied territories tonight.”

At the same time, political analyst Seyed Mohammad Marandi linked the Israeli strike to broader regional diplomatic developments. Referring to the arrival of a Pakistani delegation in Tehran, Marandi argued that the bombing of Beirut coincided with the visit and claimed that “Netanyahu and the Zionists own America.”

 

In separate remarks, Marandi emphasized the importance of Lebanon in Tehran’s strategic calculations, saying that a ceasefire in Lebanon remains one of Iran’s clear conditions in any potential agreement. According to him, Iran has openly stated its demands, and if a viable agreement is to be reached and implemented by both sides, it is Washington—not Tehran—that must take the necessary steps.

 

“The main obstacle to an agreement is not in Tehran but in Washington,” Marandi said. He also noted that it remains to be seen what message or proposal the visiting Pakistani official may bring during discussions with Iranian leaders.

The comments come just days after Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning regarding continued Israeli operations in Lebanon. On June 2, Ghalibaf said during talks with the Speaker of Lebanon’s Parliament that if what he described as Israel’s “crimes” in Lebanon continued, Iran would not only halt ongoing negotiations but would also “stand against the regime.”

 

Taken together, these statements suggest that escalating tensions in Lebanon are increasingly influencing the broader regional diplomatic landscape, including indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States. Iranian officials appear to be drawing a direct connection between developments on the ground in Lebanon and wider political and security discussions unfolding across the region.