US-Iran news LIVE: Trump slams Netanyahu, says ‘there would be no Israel without me’ as he tries to finalize peace deal | Today’s news
US-Iran News LIVE: As US President Donald Trump tries to finalize a peace deal with Iran, his relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are reportedly deteriorating. Trump attacked Netanyahu, saying “without me there would be no Israel.” He even called the Israeli prime minister a “madman”.
The tension came as the US president criticized recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which again threatened to jeopardize negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Trump is pushing for a peace deal as he faces a growing political backlash at home.
Iran exports first oil in two months
On Tuesday, Iran was able to export its first oil shipments in two months after the two sides reached an agreement to end the US naval blockade, maritime news agency TankerTrackers reported. The US naval blockade was imposed on April 13, days after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz again following tensions with Washington. Earlier on Monday, Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz had been reopened under the terms of the deal, but later adjusted the timetable, saying the strait would reopen after a formal signing in Geneva on Friday.
Australia eases travel warning to Middle East
Following the announcement of the US-Iran peace deal, Australia lowered its travel warnings to Middle Eastern countries including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the advice had moved to “reassess your need to travel” from “not to travel”, but added Australians should continue to postpone non-essential travel to the Gulf states.
Iran seeks Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon
Iran’s top diplomat reiterated on Tuesday that a tentative deal to end the war with the United States would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, a condition Israel has already rejected and could impact the deal, leading to a resumption of all-out war.
The agreement between Washington and Tehran has not yet been made public, and officials from both sides have offered conflicting statements about what it contains. Although Israel is not a party to the deal, it is part of the war after it joined the US in launching strikes on Iran on February 28. Israel also fought the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon and seized large parts of the country.
Oil falls to three-month low as US-Iran peace deal boosts supplies
Oil posted its longest decline this year as a US-Iran peace deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz raised expectations for a supply recovery, with top Wall Street banks cutting their price forecasts and key market indicators falling.
Global benchmark Brent fell for a fourth straight session, settling below $79 a barrel, its lowest level since early March. The US and Iran are set to formally sign an interim peace deal on Friday that will allow tankers trapped since the conflict began to leave the key waterway.
The peace deal between the US and Iran has not yet been made public
Details of an interim deal between the US and Iran to end the Middle East war began to emerge on Tuesday, with Trump saying Washington would rule out a nuclear weapon for Tehran and a US official saying it would allow Iran to sell oil after the signing.
The memorandum of understanding signed this week, although not yet made public, extends a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days to allow the warring countries to negotiate a permanent ceasefire.
