Iran to cut off peace talks with U.S. over cease-fire violations

by · UPI

June 1 (UPI) -- Iran has stopped peace negotiations with the United States as it alleges the terms of its cease-fire agreement have been violated, Iran state media reported Monday.

The Iranian Tasnim News Agency cited Israel's continued military operations in Lebanon as a violation of its cease-fire terms, calling for a cease-fire in Lebanon.

At least 3,422 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel began its operations there on March 2.

The Iranian news agency added that Iran will block the Strait of Hormuz and is looking to "activate" its "resistance front" in other areas.

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"The United States and Israel bear responsibility for the consequences of any breach of the truce," Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister, wrote on social media.

Despite the cease-fire between the United States and Iran, both sides have continued to exchange fire through the weekend. U.S. Central Command reports striking down two Iranian drones that were threatening ships. The United States has also been enforcing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, confronting any ships going to and from Iranian ports.

As reports about Iran ending peace negotiations emerged, U.S President Donald Trump first claimed early Monday that Iran "really wants to make a deal," in a post on social media.

"Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end -- It always does!" he wrote.

Later in the day, the president said in an interview with CNBC that he "didn't care" if negotiations were over. He also told CNBC that he didn't care about oil prices, while promising those prices would drop "very quickly."

"If they're over, they're over," Trump said of the negotiations with Iran. "If they're not, you know, you know, I think they took too much time. Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring."

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