Trump Says He Will Resolve Lebanon Dispute, Including With Netanyahu

President Donald Trump said Monday night that he would deal with the disagreement over Israel’s continued deployment in southern Lebanon, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw from the security zone there as long as it remains necessary to protect northern communities. Asked about Netanyahu’s remarks, Trump replied, “We’ll look into it.” He added that he would not explain his method, but said, “I don’t say how I’m going to solve it, but I solve problems, I solve problems quickly, including Bibi.”

The comments came amid tensions over the future presence of the Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire and the creation of new monitoring mechanisms intended to prevent renewed fighting in the area.

Trump also addressed the agreement with Iran, warning that the United States would respond if Tehran violates its commitments. “If Iran violates the agreement, I’ll do what I have to do,” he said, adding, “As long as Iran respects us, we won’t have any problem.” He presented the understandings with Tehran as a major diplomatic achievement and said he was confident they could be enforced.

During an event in the Oval Office, Trump claimed that funds unfrozen for Iran under the deal would be used only to buy food through American intermediaries. Iran’s central bank governor denied that claim in a conversation with the Iranian news agency Tasnim, saying there is no such restriction on how the unfrozen money can be used.