Trump warns against more Israeli attacks in Lebanon as Iran deal nears

Washington: US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Israel’s latest strike on Beirut on Sunday, saying the attack “should not have happened” as diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement with Iran gather momentum.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called for an immediate halt to hostilities in Lebanon, stressing that all sides must exercise restraint if a broader regional settlement is to succeed.

‘There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel,’ Trump wrote.

The remarks came as the US president expressed confidence that a peace deal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran is now “very close.” Trump has repeatedly suggested that negotiations are approaching a breakthrough, although Iranian officials have remained more cautious about the timeline.

According to Trump, the proposed agreement could pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, and help ease tensions that have rattled the Middle East in recent weeks. However, details of the proposed arrangement have not yet been made public.

Iran has maintained that any long-term peace framework must also address the situation in Lebanon, arguing that regional stability cannot be achieved without ending violence involving Israel and Hezbollah.

Trump’s comments are notable because they represent one of his strongest public criticisms of Israeli military action since the latest crisis began.

By calling out the Beirut strike while simultaneously warning Hezbollah against launching attacks on Israel, Trump sought to position Washington as a mediator pushing for de-escalation on all fronts.

The latest developments come amid intensified diplomatic efforts involving multiple regional and international actors to prevent the conflict from expanding further and to secure a broader peace settlement involving Iran, Israel and Lebanon.