Iran raises doubts of ceasefire

IRAN warned at the weekend that it had little faith in Israel’s commitment to a fragile ceasefire that ended the most intense and destructive confrontation between the two foes to date.

- 

The 12-day war erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists linked to its nuclear programme. Tehran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities.

Israel said its aim was to keep the Islamic republic from developing an atomic weapon — an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.

The fighting derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the US which later joined its ally Israel’s campaign with strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities.

“We did not start the war, but we have responded to the aggressor with all our power,” Iranian armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi was quoted as saying by state television, referring to Israel.

“We have serious doubts over the enemy's compliance with its commitments including the ceasefire, we are ready to respond with force” if attacked again, he added, six days into the ceasefire.

The conflict rattled the already shaky relationship between Iran and the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran has rejected the IAEA’ request to inspect its bombed nuclear sites, accusing its chief Rafael Grossi of “betraying his duties” by failing to condemn the Israeli and US attacks.

Iranian lawmakers voted this week to suspend co-operation with the agency.