Two days in, Israel-Lebanon ceasefire already feels unsteady

Two days into a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, some say the situation already feels unstable as tensions tied to Iran continue.

The ceasefire marks a rare moment of direct communication between Israel and Lebanon, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying it is the first time in 43 years that representatives from both sides are speaking directly in an effort to seek peace.

Still, concerns persist about whether the agreement will hold.

Peymaneh Khodayari, an Iranian activist living in San Diego, said many Iranians, both in Iran and abroad, are worried about what comes next.

“Iranian people here, they are getting very worried about that,” Khodayari said.

Khodayari also expressed skepticism about the Iranian government’s role in the ceasefire.

“As an Iranian, I want to just say to all the countries, do not trust [the] Islamic Republic, [what] they say, it’s not true. They never keep their promise,” Khodayari said.

Iran’s parliamentary leadership has indicated caution about the ceasefire, saying the country will remain unified until it achieves its goals. Meanwhile, Netanyahu said Israel has established a buffer zone along its northern border to protect against attacks.

Khodayari said she fears the interests of the Iranian people are being overlooked amid broader geopolitical concerns.

“I know that America[‘s], [the] only concern of America is the nuclear [aspect], but the Iranian concern is no Islamic republic, with nuclear, without nuclear, we don’t want any Islamic republic,” Khodayari said.

“This is not my word, this is the Iranian word to all the countries,” Khodayari concluded.

The ripple effects of the conflict are also being felt locally. Heidi Gantwerk, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, said last week before the ceasefire that in recent weeks she has seen a rise in antisemitism and violence.

“What we are seeing now in terms of the anti-Semitism, the violence directed against Jews, the attacks on synagogues just a few weeks ago, it’s a regular occurrence. I have not seen it in my lifetime, nor has anyone I know,” Gantwerk said.

Despite the ceasefire, many say lasting peace remains uncertain as regional tensions involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran continue.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.