US President Donald Trump Sunday issued fresh threats to strike Iran if fails to stop Hezbollah from “causing trouble,” as peace talks between senior US and Iranian officials began in Switzerland.
The fragile diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington now faces sudden jeopardy as intense combat erupts in southern Lebanon between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, a key Iranian ally.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
The regional crisis worsened on Saturday when a wave of Israeli airstrikes killed at least thirty individuals across eastern and southern Lebanon. However, the hostility temporarily cooled later that night following an official directive ordering the Israeli army to halt its combat operations against Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday between the United States and Iran stipulates a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
US Vice President JD Vance said he had seen “great progress in the last just couple of days in ensuring that the ceasefire holds in Lebanon.”
“We’re all working towards regional peace,” he said. “I actually feel great about where we are in Lebanon. There’s still some additional wood to chop but we’re going to keep on working at it.”
Trump Threatens Fresh Bombing of Iran If Peace Deal Fails
Barely four days ago, US President, Donald J. Trump issued a warning that Washington will resume military airstrikes on Iran if Tehran fails to comply with the terms of the recently announced peace deal agreement, describing the arrangement as a non-binding memorandum of understanding rather than a final deal.
Trump made the threats on Wednesday while addressing reporters alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, where discussions on the future of US-Iran relations dominated diplomatic engagements.
He also noted that the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran remains preliminary and could collapse if the Iranian government fails to meet his expectations.
The 14-Point US-Iran Deal
Recall that the US previously released the formal text of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, outlining a framework aimed at ending hostilities and paving the way for a broader peace agreement. The document also establishes a 60-day negotiation period during which both sides are expected to address outstanding issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and regional security concerns.
The document , titled the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” was made public after calls for greater transparency over the terms of the accord, according to CNN on Wednesday.
