Trump urges Israel not to strike Lebanon with US and Iran ‘so close’ to agreement
US President Donald Trump criticized Israel’s recent strike in Beirut, calling it a misstep that threatened a potential Iran agreement, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks an urgent meeting with Trump to address tensions over Hezbollah and Iran negotiations. The proposed US-Iran deal remains uncertain, with Iranian state media reporting Tehran has not yet finalized its decision on the framework, despite Qatari mediators working to finalize terms in Tehran.
US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Israel’s military strike in Beirut on Sunday, stating the attack ‘should not have happened’ and risked jeopardizing a potential agreement with Iran. Trump, who still expects a memorandum of understanding to be signed with Iran later in the day, warned that the US and Iran were ‘so close’ to a deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now urgently seeking a meeting with Trump after the G7 summit to clarify Israel’s position amid rising tensions over negotiations with Iran and the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israeli strike in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah strongholds, followed Hezbollah’s fire on northern Israel. Iran’s top security official has previously warned that Lebanon is a ‘red line’ in negotiations, heightening concerns over escalation. Trump has already restricted Israel’s military options, including canceling planned attacks on Iran last week after Tehran launched missiles at Israel. A diplomatic source confirmed that Qatari negotiators remain in Tehran to ensure talks stay on track, working alongside US officials to finalize the proposed framework. Iranian state media had earlier reported that Tehran had not yet made a final decision on the agreement, despite Qatari mediators arriving in Iran on Sunday to assist. The signing of a memorandum of understanding would trigger 60 more days of negotiations to end the war, though conflicting messages from US and Iranian officials and dissent from Iranian hardliners add uncertainty. Netanyahu’s push for a meeting with Trump follows a public rebuke from the US president, who called Hezbollah’s attack on Israel ‘very small and meaningless.’ The dispute marks a sharp contrast to the earlier unified stance between Trump and Netanyahu at the start of the Iran conflict. Israel remains concerned about maintaining its operational freedom against Hezbollah, particularly as Iran demands an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as part of any deal.
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