Trump may restart Iran crackdown if deal not signed

US President Donald Trump said that world leaders have welcomed the agreement with Iran.

“No leader said: Please sir, keep bombing them,” Trump said at the G7 meeting in France.

“Only idiots say that,” he said, adding that the deal would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that the deal had saved the world from “nuclear holocaust.”

“Technical discussions will begin immediately on removing all uranium reserves,” Trump said. He also mentioned that Gulf countries are going to be part of this process.

Regarding the issue of Iran’s ballistic missiles, the US leader said Tehran “must have some” as do other countries.

“Missiles are not the problem,” Trump said, explaining that they “can’t blow up the entire planet.”

Lebanon is a “small piece of the puzzle” but “very noisy,” Trump said, adding that Israeli attacks in the country are going too far.

“You don’t need to lock down buildings when two drones are fired into the desert and don’t harm anyone. They might do a better job for Hezbollah.”

US President Donald Trump said the US would “start the process over” if Iran does not agree to a final deal.

“I think they will,” Trump said on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, when asked about
Deal prospects.

Trump said, “If they don’t do it, then, you know, that’s OK. We have to start the process again, and we will not lose.”

The signing ceremony of the agreement is expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday

If the deal goes ahead, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major oil shipping routes, would reopen to traffic on Friday.

The war has effectively shut off the flow of vital gas and oil supplies for months, causing global energy prices to rise. About 20% of the world’s crude oil is supplied through the vital channel.

Donald Trump publicly chastised Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s continued military action in Lebanon, warning that the Israeli Prime Minister will need to be “more responsible”. American diplomat Barbara A. Leaf gave us her assessment.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said talks with Israel in Washington next week – aimed at ending fighting between Israel and Hezbollah – were an independent process and not linked to the US-Iran deal.

“The assurances we have received, and what we insist on, are that Lebanon’s path in negotiations is free, although we are certainly in favor of a ceasefire and for any country that helps us, including Iran,” Aoun said in a statement published by his office.

Aoun hopes the fifth round of talks “will be more positive, especially given the US administration’s keen interest in Lebanon.”

“The Lebanese state is sovereign in its decision-making and for the first time, it is negotiating and no one is negotiating for us,” he said.

“I assure the Lebanese that no one is tying us to any other country and any agreement will be made through us, not at our expense,” he said.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has rejected the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the terrorist group, as well as direct talks with Israel.

Lebanon was drawn into the war in March when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel after the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and ground offensives.

Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest developments from the Middle East region.

We are just days away from the signing of the US-Iran deal in Switzerland and with it the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Details of the MoU are not yet known.

Germany is keeping a close eye on developments and Chancellor Merz has indicated that a vote in the Bundestag could take place before the summer recess for a mission in the Strait.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s president has stressed that talks with Israel to end the fighting with Hezbollah are not linked to the US-Iran deal.

This blog will give you the latest information on these topics and other movements in the Middle East.