In the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Iran has issued a stern warning that any Israeli invasion of Lebanon would trigger an "obliterating war." The threat comes amidst heightened concerns over the Israeli-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the efforts made by the United States to prevent a full-scale war in the region.

Iran's mission to the United Nations conveyed their stance on social media, dismissing Israel's warnings of military action in Lebanon as "psychological warfare." However, they emphasized that if Israel were to engage in full-scale military aggression, it would lead to an obliterating war. Iranian officials further stated that all options, including the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, were on the table. The Resistance Fronts comprise armed groups supported by Iran, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Yemen's Houthis, and Iraqi Shiite militias.

Previously, former Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz declared the capacity to "plunge Lebanon completely into the dark" and dismantle Hezbollah's power rapidly. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had the ability to bring Lebanon "back to the Stone Age." Nevertheless, Gallant stressed that Israel did not want to engage in a war due to the negative implications it would have for the country.

U.S. intelligence suggests that if the Israeli government and Hamas fail to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza, a large-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah is likely to erupt within the next few weeks. Figures from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reported by Al Jazeera indicate that since October 7, there have been approximately 7,400 cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon.

The mounting tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border have prompted several countries to issue travel advisories. Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon through commercial flights, while the U.S. advised its citizens to strongly reconsider travel to the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the situation, stated that the "intense phase of the war with Hamas is about to end," but underscored the possibility of the IDF shifting its focus to Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Additionally, in late May, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and three senior Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The U.K. government is expected to intervene at the ICC to delay a decision on issuing a warrant for Netanyahu.

Amidst these developments, Iran held its presidential elections, with none of the candidates securing the necessary 50 percent of preferences to win in the first round. The country is now preparing for a runoff between moderate reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and hardliner Saeed Jalili, who received 10.4 million and 9.4 million votes, respectively. The outcome of the election may have significant implications for the future of Iran's foreign relations, including its posture towards Israel and the surrounding region.

As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches the situation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to avoid the devastating consequences of an all-out war in the Middle East.