Trump Slams Israel Over Lebanon Strike, Warns of Risking Iran Deal
President Trump publicly criticized Israel for conducting strikes near Beirut on Sunday, saying the timing threatened to derail an imminent peace deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The president took to Truth Social to voice his frustration with the timing of Israeli military action, according to New York Post. Donald Trump characterized the morning strikes against Hezbollah positions as an unwelcome complication during sensitive diplomatic proceedings.
This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, Trump wrote, emphasizing that the provocations Israel had responded to were minimal in nature and did not warrant escalation at such a critical juncture.
The Israeli Defense Forces had launched the strikes in retaliation for Hezbollah firing rounds toward Israeli territory earlier Sunday. The militant group, which operates as an Iranian proxy force in Lebanon, has maintained steady hostilities with Israel for decades.
Iran Sets Conditions for Deal
Tehran has made Israeli cessation of military operations in Lebanon a prerequisite for finalizing any agreement with the United States, New York Post reports. The pending deal would restore commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.
Trump called on all parties to exercise restraint, warning that continued attacks from either Israel or Hezbollah could derail a historic opportunity to stabilize the region. He specifically stated that Israel maintains the right to self-defense but urged Jerusalem to hold fire while negotiations remained active.
Deal Signing Imminent
Sources cited by Axios indicated that a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran could be executed electronically as early as noon Eastern Time on Sunday. The framework would represent a significant diplomatic breakthrough after months of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.
Whether the Israeli strikes have permanently scuttled the agreement remained unclear as of Sunday afternoon. The Trump administration has invested considerable political capital in securing Iranian cooperation on maritime security while managing longstanding American commitments to Israeli security.
With information from New York Post
