An Iranian minister has told the BBC that Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday constituted a 'grave violation' of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement.
Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Lebanon was covered by the two-week deal agreed on Tuesday - something the US and Israel dispute - and said the US must choose 'between war and ceasefire'.
The Lebanese health ministry has said at least 203 people were killed on Wednesday in air strikes on what Israel called Hezbollah command centres and military sites.
Pressed on whether Tehran would likewise ask Hezbollah to stop firing rockets towards Israel, Khatibzadeh claimed the Iranian-backed militant group had 'abided' by the ceasefire.
Hezbollah said on Thursday that it had fired at Israel overnight in response to what it called ceasefire violations.
It has also threatened to keep up its attacks until 'Israeli-American aggression' against Lebanon comes to an end.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Khatibzadeh said Tehran had sent a 'crystal clear' message to the White House late on Wednesday which could be summarised as 'you cannot have cake and eat it at the same time'.
'You cannot ask for a ceasefire and then accept terms and conditions, accept all the areas that a ceasefire is applied to, and name Lebanon, exactly Lebanon in that, and then your ally just starts a massacre.'
He said the deal that was reached - 'which Trump called a workable framework' - meant Iran, Washington and each of their allies were to adhere to the ceasefire, and claimed Hezbollah had 'very much abided by that'.
Khatibzadeh said he was 'very doubtful' about reaching a permanent understanding with the US, accusing Washington of having used negotiation as a cover for military action. He added: 'But as a diplomat, I'm very much hopeful that finally we reach an understanding and settle this within our national interest and within the regional interest.'
