CENTCOM chief briefs Congress on US military priorities in Middle East

Iran and Israel have paused direct attacks, but Tehran's latest warning suggests the conflict may be evolving rather than ending.

On Monday, Iran said it would suspend operations against Israel but warned attacks would resume if Israel continued striking Lebanon.

Israel rejected the condition, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing Tehran and Hezbollah of trying to create a new equation in which attacks on Israel would no longer carry consequences.

The development has fueled debate over whether the latest ceasefire represents the end of the fighting—or merely the end of its first phase.

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The events of the past 24 hours have further exposed growing differences between Washington and Jerusalem over the future of the conflict, according to US and Israeli sources cited by Axios.

The report said recent developments underscore a widening gap between both the strategic interests of the United States and Israel and the political interests of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Bibi needs the war to continue to stay politically alive in Israel, and Trump needs the war to end to stay politically alive in the U.S.," a US official told Axios.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck near Sargaz in Iran's southern Hormozgan province early on Tuesday, according to Iranian state media.

The quake occurred at a depth of 22 kilometers (13.7 miles), state media reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations said he hopes Tehran and Washington will reach a final agreement soon as negotiations continue over a potential peace deal.

Speaking to the Associated Press after addressing a UN Security Council meeting, Amir Saeid Iravani said he hoped the two sides would arrive at a final outcome "soon."

Tehran and Washington remain engaged in negotiations aimed at reaching a broader agreement following months of conflict and diplomatic contacts.

Hezbollah said it carried out a series of attacks on Israeli military targets in southern Lebanon on Monday.

In statements posted on Telegram, the group said it first struck an Israeli military bulldozer on the southeastern outskirts of Yohmor al-Shaqif with artillery shells before targeting another bulldozer in the same area with a guided missile.

Hezbollah claimed the missile strike achieved a "confirmed hit."

The group also said it fired artillery shells and rockets at gatherings of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles near Yohmor al-Shaqif and Ainata.