Tehran: The Iran–Israel war widened on Monday after Tehran fired missiles at Israel and several Arab states, while Hezbollah launched attacks from Lebanon, and the United States intensified airstrikes on Iranian targets.

As American and Israeli strikes continued to hit sites across Iran, senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani said Tehran would not enter negotiations with Washington.

“We will not negotiate with the United States,” Larijani wrote on X, responding to a report by Qatar-based Al Jazeera.

US–Israel airstrikes intensify

The latest escalation follows coordinated US and Israeli air operations targeting military and strategic locations in Iran. Iranian authorities have said more than 200 people have been killed since the campaign began, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.

Former US President Donald Trump, who recently urged Iranians to “take over” their government, signalled over the weekend that he could be open to dialogue with new leadership in Tehran.

However, Iran’s foreign minister suggested earlier that certain military units may have acted independently in launching attacks on Gulf Arab states, raising questions about central command control amid the expanding conflict.

Hezbollah enters the conflict from Lebanon

The conflict spread further after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon. Israeli forces responded with strikes against Hezbollah positions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Hezbollah’s actions risked dragging Lebanon deeper into a regional confrontation.

“Hezbollah’s rocket launches from Lebanon “target all the efforts and endeavours exerted by the Lebanese state to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region,” Aoun said in a statement.

While condemning Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory, he warned that turning Lebanon into a platform for proxy warfare would expose the country to renewed risks.

US officials to brief the media and Congress

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine are scheduled to hold a Pentagon press conference on Monday morning to address the military operation against Iran.

The White House said senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, will brief members of Congress on the Iran strikes later this week.

Drone incident at UK base in Cyprus

Meanwhile, authorities in Cyprus reported an “incident” involving an unmanned drone at RAF Akrotiri, a British air base on the island’s southern coast.

Government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis said the drone strike occurred shortly after midnight and caused limited damage. He did not specify the drone’s origin or the extent of the impact.

The incident followed remarks by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicating that the United Kingdom would support the United States in the conflict with Iran.

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Rising Middle East tensions

The rapid expansion of hostilities — involving Iran, Israel, Hezbollah, Gulf states, the US and the UK — underscores growing instability in the Middle East. With Tehran ruling out negotiations and allied militias entering the fray, the Iran–Israel conflict risks evolving into a broader regional war.

International observers are closely monitoring developments as diplomatic efforts struggle to keep pace with escalating military action across the region.

AFP