Middle East crisis live: Iranian ambassador warns it will respond to any Israeli attack in Lebanon

By Vivian Ho • June 23, 2026 • World news

The Iranian ambassador to the UN in Geneva described Israeli attacks on Lebanon as a red line in negotiations

Hello and welcome to our live blog of the Middle East. The Iranian ambassador to the UN in Geneva has just warned that Tehran’s red line in negotiations with Washington is that Israel will cease attacks on Lebanon, including the capital of Beirut. The ambassador added that Iran “will respond” if Israel violates the memorandum of understanding established on Thursday in any way, including with attacks on Lebanon and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. On Tuesday, Israeli gunfire killed two people in southern ⁠Lebanon, according to Reuters – the first reported fatalities resulting from Israeli ⁠fire in Lebanon ⁠in three days. Responding to the attack, the Iranian envoy said any violation of the memorandum of understanding will create challanges to the peace talks. Strikes between Hezbollah and Israel have been a key point of contention during the talks between the US and Iran to reach a peace deal. Israel is now occupying part of southern Lebanon in a so-called “security zone.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed the zone is necessary to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah. Here are some other key developments: JD Vance said the talks with Iran created a “good foundation for a successful final deal” to end the war. “The final deal is the house,” the US vice-president told reporters. “We set the foundation. We haven’t built the house, but we’ve laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people.” When asked how soon IAEA inspectors could come to Iran, JD Vance said nuclear inspectors were called at 2am last night – but no one picked up the call. “As you can expect, not many people are answering their phone at two in the morning,” the vice president said. US secretary of state Marco Rubio will begin a trip to three Gulf countries on Tuesday amid negotiations with Iran to end the war in the Middle East, his spokesperson said. Visiting the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, Rubio will discuss “the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” state department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Tehran ⁠did not negotiate on its nuclear ⁠programme ⁠and did not accept any ⁠new commitments in Sunday’s talks with the ⁠US in Switzerland, ‌foreign ministry spokesperson ‌Esmaeil Baghaei told ‌the official IRNA news agency on Monday. Iran’s interaction with the International ‌Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue in accordance with current procedures, subject to the approval ⁠of Iran’s parliament and the decisions of the Supreme National Security ‌Council, Baghaei added. More to come.

Source: The Guardian