Donald Trump has broken his silence on a key question surrounding the US-Iran ceasefire deal. The US president addressed reports about the agreement’s scope in a new interview, and his answer has already drawn sharp reactions from multiple world leaders.
Donald Trump reportedly says Lebanon is ‘not part’ of ceasefire deal
US President Donald Trump told PBS News that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Iran. Trump cited Hezbollah as the reason for Lebanon’s exclusion, adding that the situation “will get taken care of.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Lebanon’s exclusion from the deal, according to Axios. Trump also described Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon as “a separate skirmish,” PBS NewsHour’s Liz Landers reported on X.
Pakistan, which mediated the truce, contradicted the US position. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire covers “everywhere including Lebanon,” effective immediately.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared Sharif’s post, stressing the ceasefire terms were “clear and explicit.”
Iran warned of serious consequences if Israel continued its assault on Lebanon. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would “give a regretful response to the evil aggressors” if attacks on Lebanon did not stop. Iranian state media reported oil tankers had been suspended from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials did not confirm this.
Israel launched one of its most intense attacks on Lebanon following Trump’s remarks. Lebanese health authorities confirmed at least 254 people were killed and over 1,160 others were injured. The strikes targeted residential buildings, mosques, medical centres, and a funeral in the Bekaa Valley town of Shmestar, killing at least 20 people.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the international community to end what he described as Israel’s disregard for international law. Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine confirmed over 100 air strikes targeted civilians across Beirut, Bekaa, and the south. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
