Trump says Iran memorandum will be signed within hours, reprimands Netanyahu over Beirut strike
A US-Iran memorandum extending a ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iranian assets is to be signed within hours, President Trump announced Sunday, while sharply criticising Israel's retaliatory attack on Hezbollah in Beirut.
The imminent memorandum
President Donald Trump told Fox News on Sunday evening that the memorandum of understanding with Iran will be signed within the next few hours. The electronic signing, conducted via video link with mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, will extend the truce by 60 days, open the Strait of Hormuz and start direct talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Earlier, a senior Iranian official told Reuters the final version provides for the strait's opening, a partial lifting of US sanctions and the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets.
Four-pillar framework
On Friday a US administration official outlined the negotiated framework resting on four pillars: ending the strait blockade, dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and transferring enriched material to the US, establishing lasting regional peace, and creating an inspection regime. The deal also temporarily lifts all US sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Reuters sources say Washington will refrain from new sanctions until a comprehensive peace accord is reached, and about $25 billion of frozen Iranian funds will be released.
Sudden escalation in Lebanon
On Sunday morning the Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched three drones toward northern Israel. The Israeli army responded with a precision strike on a Hezbollah command centre in southern Beirut. Arab media reported that one Hezbollah commander was killed. The exchange came just hours before the expected signing.
Trump's rebuke to Netanyahu
Axios reported that Trump delivered a stern reprimand to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Beirut attack.
Why did Bibi have to carry out that damn attack? I was terribly angry and I showed it. He has no (...) judgement. I let him know.
Trump later posted that Israel has the right to defend itself but the Hezbollah attack caused no casualties and should not have triggered a response that disrupted the peace process. "We are very close to an agreement that will bring peace to the region, including Lebanon, and all sides should step back," he wrote.
Iranian warnings and Israeli fears
The head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, Ebrahim Azizi, wrote on X: "A decisive response is coming." Hours later, Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's joint forces, told state agency IRNA the army "has its finger on the trigger" and is ready to strike "the heart of the enemy". He added that the sacred ideal of liberating Jerusalem and avenging Ali Khamenei's blood would never be forgotten. Israeli political leaders were briefed about a "credible possibility" of an Iranian missile barrage before midnight, the Times of Israel reported. Israeli officials described Trump's public criticism as a severe blow and fear the emerging US-Iran deal could drastically restrict Israel's military freedom in Lebanon.
Formal signing in Geneva
AFP reports that a formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday 19 June in Geneva. The electronic memorandum signed within hours is considered the binding preliminary step, but the Geneva event will mark the official launch of the extended ceasefire and the complex nuclear dismantlement and inspection process.
- Hezbollah launches three drones at northern Israel; no casualties.
- Israel strikes Hezbollah command centre in southern Beirut, killing a commander.
- Trump tells Fox News memorandum will be signed within hours and reprimands Netanyahu.
- Electronic signing of US-Iran memorandum of understanding expected within hours.
- Formal signing ceremony planned in Geneva.
