US-Iran Ceasefire Starts Amid Lebanon Strike Tensions

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect this week, halting direct military exchanges after more than a month of conflict that began in late February, but escalating tensions over Israeli strikes in Lebanon threatened its immediate stability.

The war erupted following nationwide protests in Iran against the clerical government, which responded with a crackdown that human rights groups estimate killed thousands of demonstrators. In response, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian targets, including an initial barrage that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the country since 1989. Subsequent operations targeted military infrastructure, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other repressive forces, paralyzing parts of Iran's command structure and curtailing its financial resources for internal security and regional activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on Tuesday, describing it as a step toward regime change and negotiations that would end Iran's uranium enrichment. However, less than 24 hours later, Iran accused the United States of violations. Parliament...