The United States and Iran are discussing moving the implementation of their memorandum of understanding forward so it takes effect tonight instead of Friday, Axios reported. President Donald Trump said Israel has already received a copy of the agreement, and he indicated that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon travel to the United States.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Switzerland, Trump said those urging continued strikes on Iran were “stupid,” arguing that extending the war could have triggered “an economic catastrophe.” He said markets rose whenever he signaled a deal was near and fell whenever he suggested otherwise. He also warned that if the bombing had continued for another month, two months, or three, the Strait of Hormuz might never have reopened and Iran could have destroyed the Middle East, including Israel.
Trump then added that the document is “only a memorandum of understanding,” and if there is no progress within 60 days, “we will simply go back to bombing them,” though he said he does not want that outcome. He said Israel has been a good partner but is the smaller part of the partnership and “we are the ones making the decisions.” He also said Israel should act “a little better” regarding Hezbollah, adding that he feels sorry for Lebanon.
Trump said Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa would have been happy to enter Lebanon and deal with Hezbollah without “just knocking buildings down.” Referring to Netanyahu, he said, “Netanyahu gets excited sometimes, but he is a good partner,” and described a dispute in which he told Netanyahu he did not need to destroy a building every time Hezbollah acted. Trump said Iran needs investment because the strikes caused “billions” in damage, and that someone else will have to help rebuild it. He also made the unusual claim that Iran should be allowed to keep ballistic missiles because other countries have them, and said Iran signed because he killed Qasem Soleimani. He ended by saying Washington would later discuss proxies and ballistic missiles.
