Less than 24 hours after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, there were conflicting reports over whether the Strait of Hormuz was open, as well as if Lebanon was included in the agreement.

Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement after Israel launched large attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 254?people and injuring hundreds, Lebanon's civil defense service said.

The Trump administration and Israel said that Lebanon was not part of the truce, while Iran said Lebanon was included.

Pakistan, which mediated the ceasefire, said the truce also covered Lebanon.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, said Hezbollah in Lebanon must be included in the truce despite US and Israeli objections.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Wednesday that Vice-President JD Vance would lead the US team to negotiate with Iran?in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

However, Iran later suggested that it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with peace talks with the US, due to Israel ramping up its war with Hezbollah, Reuters reported.

"In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable," Ghalibaf said in a statement.

The two sides also appeared far apart on Iran's nuclear program as well — one of the factors that US President Donald Trump cited as the basis for the war, Reuters reported.

"The United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried ... Nuclear 'Dust'," Trump said on social media.

Ghalibaf, however, said Iran was allowed to continue enriching uranium under the terms of the ceasefire.

Iranian state media Fars News reported that tanker traffic was?suspended again on Wednesday afternoon as a response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Leavitt disputed the claim that Hormuz was closed during Wednesday's news briefing.

"We have seen an uptick of traffic in the Strait today, and I will reiterate President Trump's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely. That is his expectation, and it has been relayed to him privately that that is what's taking place," said Leavitt.

When asked about China's role in mediating a truce, Leavitt responded: "With respect to China, there were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China's government. The president has great respect for President Xi, and a great working relationship with him and with that country. He looks forward to visiting China in just a few weeks."

By 2 pm local time on Wednesday, only three bulk carriers — NJ Earth, Daytona Beach and Hai Long 1 — had passed through the strait, BBC reported. Close to 800 ships are stuck due to the closure.

Iran was reported to have been broadcasting messages to tankers in the Middle East Gulf that?they would be targeted with military strikes unless they first gained approval from Iranian authorities. "If any vessels try to transit without permission, will be destroyed," the message, broadcast in English,?said.

Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union — which works closely with the Iranian government — told the Financial Times on Wednesday that Iran wanted to collect tolls from any passing tanker and to assess each ship.

"Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait to ensure these two weeks aren't used for transferring weapons," said Hosseini. "Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel, and Iran is not in a rush," he added.

Despite confusion over the ceasefire, US stock markets reacted positively to the truce: major indexes jumped by 2.5 to 2.8 percent, including the DJIA, S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com