• Iran has signaled that dialogue with the U.S. can resume only if Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza cease, according to Fars news agency.
  • The conditional stance underscores Tehran's use of Lebanon as leverage in broader negotiations.
  • Regional tensions threaten energy markets as diplomatic fragility persists.

Iran's latest message to the United States on Friday tied the resumption of bilateral talks directly to Israeli military actions in Lebanon and Gaza, according to a source cited by Fars news agency. The communication marks a clear shift in Tehran's posture, conditioning any diplomatic engagement on a de-escalation by Israel.

The message, delivered through diplomatic channels, signals that without a pause in Israeli operations, Iran will not engage in discussions that Washington has sought to advance. This development comes amid a fragile ceasefire framework between the U.S. and Iran, which has been under strain due to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Efforts to restart negotiations have hit a snag as Israel's operations in Lebanon have intensified, with reports of casualties and expanded ground activity. A person familiar with the matter confirmed that Iran's position is now explicitly conditional, a stance that could further complicate efforts by international mediators to broker a durable halt to hostilities.

Blackstone's country Chairman Andrea Valeri said at the Bloomberg Future of Finance conference in Milan on Thursday that regulatory stability is key for investors, but he was not commenting on this specific situation. However, the regional uncertainty is already sending ripples through energy markets, with crude prices edging higher on supply disruption risks tied to the broader conflict.

Iran's use of state media to broadcast its position is a deliberate strategy to apply public pressure while leaving room for backchannel maneuvers, analysts say. The United States has not yet publicly responded to the latest message, but attempts to reach the State Department for comment were unsuccessful.

In Lebanon, civilians bear the brunt of the renewed hostilities, with humanitarian concerns mounting. The situation remains fluid, and without a credible ceasefire channel, diplomacy could stall further, raising the risk of a broader conflagration.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the language of the message. The message was not delivered directly by Iran's foreign minister but through an intermediary.