Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after a deadly escalation in Lebanon, easing pressure on fragile US-Iran diplomacy and helping preserve negotiations aimed at a broader Middle East peace deal.
US President Donald Trump said he personally urged Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, revealing that he intervened as escalating violence in Lebanon threatened to derail broader diplomatic efforts tied to the fragile peace process with Iran.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he spoke with Israeli officials and pressed for restraint, arguing that continued fighting risked undermining a wider regional agreement.
“You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head,” Trump said, according to an NBC News reporter who posted details of the interview on X. Trump declined to say whether he spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The comments came hours after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon following a surge in hostilities that had raised fears of a wider regional conflict and cast doubt over efforts to transform the interim US-Iran agreement into a lasting Middle East peace deal.
CEASEFIRE AFTER DEADLY ESCALATION
A senior US official said the ceasefire came into effect around 4 p.m. local time in Lebanon after an exchange of fire between the two sides. The official said American and Qatari negotiators, with assistance from Iran, helped broker the agreement.
Two Hezbollah sources and a senior Israeli official confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters. “If Hezbollah does not attack us, then for us it is not a time of war,” the Israeli official said, adding that Israeli forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese security sources said Israel carried out several airstrikes during the first hour of the ceasefire, though no strikes were reported after 5 p.m.
LEBANON FIGHTING THREATENS IRAN TALKS
The outbreak of violence in Lebanon forced the postponement of planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland that were considered crucial to advancing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the interim agreement signed earlier this week, Washington and Tehran have given themselves 60 days to negotiate a broader settlement covering Iran’s nuclear activities, sanctions relief and regional security issues.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Iran had made clear that further negotiations depended on a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also warned that Washington would be responsible for ensuring commitments under the agreement were upheld.
TRUMP DEFENDS IRAN DEAL
Trump’s comments on Israel came as he mounted a fresh defence of the interim accord with Iran, which has faced criticism from some Republican allies who argue that Tehran received too many concessions.
Writing on social media, Trump insisted the conflict had severely weakened Iran. “The War has diminished Iran!” Trump wrote. “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED!”
He also rejected suggestions that Tehran would benefit financially from the agreement. “We’ll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!” Trump said.
