President Trump told ABC News that Middle East peace negotiations with Iran remain progressing despite a brief disruption in talks Monday.
Trump expressed confidence in the diplomatic process while acknowledging a “glitch” had emerged earlier in the day. He claimed to have quickly resolved the issue through personal intervention with both Iranian and Israeli officials.
What Happened
Iran announced Monday that communications with the United States had paused following what Tehran described as Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Trump later signaled the discussions had not collapsed, posting on social media that negotiations with Iran were “continuing” at a “rapid pace.”
According to Trump, the problem stemmed from tensions over Israeli military operations involving Lebanon. “So, I spoke with Hezbollah, and I said no shooting, and I talked to Bibi [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], and said, no shooting, and they both stopped shooting each other,” Trump said.
Trump’s Intervention
Trump claimed he personally intervened to prevent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. He said he secured assurances from Netanyahu that Israeli troops would not enter Beirut and communicated with Hezbollah representatives that attacks on Israel would cease.
In a social media post, Trump wrote, “There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.” He added that Hezbollah agreed to halt attacks if Israel refrained from striking them.
Timeline and Next Steps
Trump indicated a memorandum of understanding regarding the Strait of Hormuz could be finalized within a week. He acknowledged that negotiations remain incomplete, stating “I still have to get a few more points.”
The president suggested that a negotiated settlement could prove more valuable than military action. “A peace agreement with Iran could be even better than a military victory,” Trump said, while cautioning that reaching a final deal remains difficult due to decades of hostility between the nations.
Regional Significance
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, with substantial portions of global oil exports passing through the waterway. A reopened strait and lasting agreement could reshape energy markets, regional stability, and international trade.