Iranian media reports peace talks with US halted, as Trump says they continue at 'pace'

Smoke rises in Lebanon following an air strike on Monday, as seen from the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border. (Reuters: Amir Cohen)

Iranian state media is reporting the country has halted negotiations with the United States on an end to the war, over Israel's conduct in Lebanon.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had ordered strikes on Dahiyeh, in Beirut's south.

US President Donald Trump says Iran has not communicated to the US that it plans to suspend talks.

Iranian state media is reporting that the country's government has halted negotiations with the United States over an end to the war in the Middle East, in protest over Israel's conduct in Lebanon.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had ordered strikes on Dahiyeh, in Beirut's southern suburbs, long considered a stronghold for the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Those strikes are yet to begin, but the threat has forced many to flee the area, with Beirut's usually heavy traffic even more jammed as a result.

In a social media post, US President Donald Trump said he spoke to Mr Netanyahu and representatives from Hezbollah and that the talks with Iran were continuing at a "rapid pace".

"I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," he wrote on his Truth Social account.

"Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."

The Lebanese presidency, citing the Lebanese embassy in the US, said Hezbollah has agreed to the US proposal on the mutual cessation of attacks that would expand to all Lebanese territory.

"I spoke with President Trump this evening and told him if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut," he said in a press conference.

An Israeli air strike hit a building and damaged a hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, on Monday. (AP Photo)

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Esmail Qaani said the Israeli operations in Lebanon and Gaza would lead the resistance axis to "equate the traffic situation of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with the Strait of Hormuz".

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is another vital shipping route used to link oil tankers and cargo ships to Europe and Asia.

Known in Arabic as the "Gate of Tears", analysts warn