‘Let’s not blow it’: Trump’s stark warning to Israel and Iran as fresh strikes in Lebanon threaten peace deal | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) warned Israel and Iran not to “blow it up”, hours after Israel launched new strikes in Lebanon.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, especially on a special day when we are so close to a peace deal with Iran. Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it responded to was very small and senseless; no one was hurt, injured or killed and it should not disrupt this important process.”
Read also | US-Iran news LIVE: Trump warns Israel, Iran not to ‘blow it up’ after new attacks
He went on to say: “We are very close to an agreement that will bring peace to the region, including Lebanon, and all parties should withdraw. There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but also no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel. This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace – let’s not throw it away!”
Israel launches new strike, Iran condemns
His remarks came after the Israeli military launched new strikes in Beirut on potential Hezbollah targets. Smoke rose over the Lebanese capital and civil defense said it had pulled three bodies and six injured people from the rubble.
Read also | ‘I wasn’t angry, but…’: Trump calls Netanyahu ‘king crazy’ over Lebanon
Following the attacks, Iran threatened a military response, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf condemning the strikes and suggesting that communication on continuing the process was no longer possible. In a post on X, he said: “The Zionist regime’s aggression against the southern suburbs of Beirut has shown once again that the United States either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or lacks the ability to do so. You cannot win concessions by giving the regime the green light. The old game of ‘good cop, bad cop’ no longer works. Possible.”
Israel unhappy with US-Iran peace deal?
The AP news agency said the deal in its current form is a deep disappointment for the Israeli government, which has been sidelined in negotiations led by Pakistan and others. Most recently, when Israel struck a suburb of Beirut a week ago, it triggered the most serious escalation in fighting between Iran and Israel since a tenuous ceasefire took hold on April 7.
The US president, who said the deal could be signed on Sunday, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacking Lebanon hard while the deal was near, but the prime minister defied him. Netanyahu’s office previously said the attacks were in response to Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired three projectiles.
Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: “Israel will not tolerate shooting on its territory.” The military later said it was preparing for potential incoming fire in the coming hours.
Read also | Israel Bombs Beirut Citing Hezbollah Drones As US-Iran Deal Close
A peace deal between the US and Iran?
Earlier on Saturday, Trump announced that a peace deal with Iran would be signed on Sunday, echoing statements by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “The deal is to be signed tomorrow and immediately after it is signed the Strait of Hormuz is OPEN TO ALL. Our relationship with Iran is much different and better than the previous administrations.”
However, Islamic Republic officials denied that any deal had been signed on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned against commenting on the timing of the signing.
“We will have to wait and see for the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” state media quoted Baghaei as saying. Baghaei added: “The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out. However, due to the hesitation of the other side, we have to be cautious about any comments on this process.”
As the US president continues to push for a peace deal with Iran, we will see if Netanyahu continues to defy him and attack Hezbollah targets.
