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'We cannot allow repeat of aggressions!' – Tehran accuses CENTCOM of coordinating 'defensively and offensively' with Israel amid latest escalation

"Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei accused Washington of coordinating with Israel after Tehran and Tel Aviv traded strikes on Sunday night. Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Baqaei argued that 'repeated acts of aggression' will affect the diplomatic process. "It had been explicitly stated from the start, and the Pakistani mediator repeatedly emphasised that ending the war in Lebanon is part of the ceasefire. Well, if the very reason for these negotiations is undermined in any way by the US or Israel, then the diplomatic process will also be affected," said Baqaei. Blaming the United States for fully co-ordinating with Israel, he dismissed the idea that Israel can carry out any action without prior cooperation with Washington. He further pointed to the persistent coordination between the US military and Israel both defensively and offensively. "Despite claims by US officials, we are aware that CENTCOM remains fully coordinated and cooperative with the Zionist regime, both defensively and offensively," stated Baqaei. The spokesperson also accused Israel of committing the 'disruptive and destructive act' aimed at undermining ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran. This comes after military tensions between Iran and Israel have resurfaced, with both sides trading strikes overnight in a fresh wave since the ceasefire went into effect in April. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced targeting the 'Ramat David' airbase using ballistic missiles, in response to Israeli operations in Lebanon. The IDF announced that it had detected ballistic missiles launched by Tehran towards Israel, confirming that its air defence systems had intercepted several projectiles, with sirens wailing across multiple areas in the north. US President Donald Trump told media outlets that he would contact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tell him ‘not to retaliate’, adding that both sides had fired missiles and urging Iran to return to the negotiating table. Netanyahu previously announced that he ordered an airstrike on a Hezbollah site in the southern suburbs of Beirut in response to Hezbollah firing rockets into Israeli territory. On April 8, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week truce with Iran to allow for negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement to end the crisis, before later extending it "until Tehran presents its proposals," without specifying a timeframe. Islamabad hosted a round of negotiations between the United States and Iran on April 11, mediated by Pakistan, which yielded no results. A second round of talks, scheduled to take place, has yet to be held, though diplomatic efforts continue. Since then, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been restricted, the US Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports, and the two sides have exchanged missile attacks in the region."

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