President Donald Trump warned Iran of a potential ‘nuclear holocaust’ while announcing a 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, claiming credit for brokering the peace deal
President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a “nuclear holocaust” unless it reaches an agreement with the US, just hours after bragging about peace.
Speaking to journalists before boarding Marine One heading to Las Vegas, the President claimed the US is “very close to making a deal with Iran” before outlining what he described as the benefits of such an arrangement.
“If that happens, oil goes way down, prices go way down, inflation goes way down, and much more importantly, you won’t have a nuclear holocaust,” Trump stated.
Israel and Lebanon have reportedly struck a ceasefire deal following weeks of reciprocal strikes and an Israeli bombing campaign that has claimed the lives of over 2,100 people in the Middle Eastern nation that shares a northern border with Israel.
Trump revealed the exact time the 10-day ceasefire would take effect, sharing a message hours earlier on Truth Social and taking credit for brokering the agreement.
“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST.
“On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,” he continued. “I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE.
“It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon could have significant implications for any potential peace settlement between the US and Iran. Tehran made it clear during the initial, unsuccessful peace negotiations between the US and Iran in Pakistan that a ceasefire in Lebanon was a fundamental requirement, without which Iran would refuse any American demands.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, that Tehran is advocating for a permanent ceasefire “in all conflict zones.” He added that a ceasefire in Lebanon is “just as important” as in Iran.
Trump invites leaders of Israel, Lebanon to the White House for direct peace talks Trump issued invitations to the leaders of both Israel and Lebanon to participate in direct peace talks at the White House, sharing an additional message on his Truth Social platform. “In addition to the statement just issued, I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago,” he posted. “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Nevertheless, the last substantial negotiations between the two countries were in fact conducted in 1993, not 1983 as Trump claimed. It remains uncertain whether this was a typing mistake or an intentional reference to the period of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Aoun declines direct discussions with Netanyahu
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected direct engagement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. The alleged comments were delivered during a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Aoun asserting that Washington “understands Lebanon’s position.”
Aoun’s office verified that a conversation with Rubio had occurred, yet made no reference to any prospective talks with Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s office likewise stayed quiet on the issue. Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington, following more than a month of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon has insisted that a ceasefire must be in place to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before any direct negotiations can get under way, while pledging to commit to disarming the group. Washington has yet to publicly announce its support for a ceasefire as a prerequisite, while the Israeli government has characterised the talks as peace negotiations centred on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire across the border, with Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at towns in northern Israel. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon intensified, particularly around the cities of Tyre, Nabatieh and the strategically significant town of Bint Jbeil, situated close to the Israeli border.
Israel and Lebanon have technically remained at war since Israel’s establishment in 1948, with Lebanon remaining deeply split over any form of diplomatic engagement with Israel.
Israeli forces have pushed further into southern Lebanon in an effort to establish what officials have described as a “security zone,” which Netanyahu has stated will extend at least 5 to 6 miles into Lebanese territory.
