Pezeshkian tells Japan's PM Iran ready to ease Hormuz transit - state media

Iran's negotiating team is stopping message exchanges with the United States through mediators over Israel's attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported on Monday.

There will be no talks until Iran's demands on the cessation of Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza are met, the report said, adding that Tehran considers the attacks on the Lebanese group a violation of the April 8 ceasefire with the US.

Iran and its regional allied groups "have placed on their agenda the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the activation of other fronts, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait," to punish Israel and its supporters, Tasnim's report added.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that she urged President Masoud Pezeshkian during a telephone call to ensure that all ships, including those from Japan and other Asian countries, can pass through the Strait of Hormuz freely and safely as soon as possible.

"I strongly hope Iran will seize this opportunity firmly and continue to demonstrate the utmost flexibility so that an agreement can be reached as soon as possible," Takaichi said on X.

"President Pezeshkian explained Iran's views, including prospects for the future. On that basis, we agreed to continue close communication going forward," she added.

US forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait late on Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday.

"These missiles were immediately defeated and no American personnel were harmed," CENTCOM said in a statement.

"U.S. Central Command remains vigilant and will continue to protect our forces from Iranian aggression while supporting the ongoing ceasefire," it added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the ceasefire between Iran and the United States covered “all fronts,” including Lebanon.

“The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” he said.

The foreign minister said a violation on one front would amount to a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts.

“The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” Araghchi warned in a post on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement earlier in the day that he had ordered the military to strike targets belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday to show “maximum flexibility” to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire agreement with the United States.

Takaichi told reporters after the call that she also strongly demanded the Strait of Hormuz be reopened soon to ensure free and safe navigation for ships from Asia and other countries.

She did not detail Pezeshkian’s response but said the two leaders agreed to keep close communication.