The signing of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran to consolidate the ceasefire and unblock the Strait of Hormuz has been embroiled in new controversy after US President Donald Trump publicly attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahufor a bombing on Beirut that, he claims, has .
In a telephone interview granted to journalist Barak Ravid, from the American media Axios and which has been echoed The CountryTrump affirmed that the agreement with Tehran remains planned, although he acknowledged that the Israeli attack has altered the planned schedule. “It has shaken him. He has delayed the signing by a few hours. It was planned right now. And then it has been set for a few hours,” declared the president.
The US president’s words reflect the growing tension between Washington and Jerusalem at a particularly delicate moment for the Middle East, where the United States is trying to consolidate a truce with Iran while Israel maintains its military strategy against Tehran’s allied groups in the region.
Trump attacks Netanyahu
The most striking part of the interview came when Trump directly referred to Netanyahu, known by the nickname “Bibi.”
According to Axios, The American president expressed strong irritation at the Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital and came to openly question the criteria of the Israeli leader. “Bibi doesn’t have a fucking shred of judgment. I’ve already told him: I’m not happy at all with his attack on Beirut,” Trump said.
The Republican added that the bombing surprised him especially because of the timing. “It’s so serious… I couldn’t believe it”he assured, before insisting that the military action occurred just one hour before the scheduled moment for the signing of the agreement.
The statements represent one of the harshest reproaches made publicly by Trump towards Netanyahu since the beginning of the current regional crisis.
An agreement that is still pending
Despite the criticism, Trump maintains that negotiations with Iran continue to move forward. According to the version conveyed by the American president, the attack on Beirut would not have derailed the pact, but only temporarily delayed ite.
The objective of the agreement would be to extend the current ceasefire and facilitate new talks on the Iranian nuclear program, in addition to allowing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy routes on the planet.
Before the conflict, approximately one fifth of the oil traded in the world transited through this maritime corridor.
The complete reopening of the road is considered a priority by Washington and by numerous energy importing countries due to its impact on international crude oil prices.
Trump also points out Hezbollah
The American president acknowledged during the conversation that Hezbollah previously carried out an action against Israel. However, he downplayed its consequences and considered the Israeli response disproportionate.
As he explained, the attack attributed to Hezbollah did not cause fatalities or significant damage.
For this reason, he considers that the bombing of Beirut It came at a particularly inopportune time. for the diplomatic efforts that Washington has been promoting for months.
Uncertainty grows over the firm
Trump’s statements come after conflicting information about the timing of the agreement.
While the United States and Pakistan have insisted that the signing could occur within hours, Iranian authorities have shown and have not yet officially confirmed the date nor the details of the meeting.
The situation leaves several unknowns open: whether Tehran will finally accept the negotiated terms, whether Israel will maintain new military operations in the coming hours and whether the mediation promoted by Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey will manage to consolidate a lasting truce.
For the moment, Trump insists that the pact is still alive and that the signing could occur “in a few hours”, although the Israeli bombing of Beirut has added a new dose of uncertainty to a diplomatic process that seemed on track.
