Trump criticises Israel over Beirut strike ahead of Iran deal

United States President Donald Trump has expressed strong disapproval of Israel’s recent strike on Beirut. Speaking at the G7 Summit in France, he said he immediately conveyed his concerns, stressing that he was unhappy with the timing of the military action. Trump also asserted that Israel’s current position has largely been shaped by his past support, claiming that no previous US president had done as much for the country as he had. He described the relationship with Netanyahu as positive overall but said the latter needs to act with greater responsibility, particularly regarding developments in Lebanon. He said that the Hezbollah conflict has dragged on for too long and resulted in excessive civilian casualties. He said large residential buildings should not be destroyed to target a few individuals, noting that many innocent civilians are caught in such attacks. Trump added that he had advised Israel to allow Syria to handle Hezbollah, suggesting Syrian forces would be more effective in dealing with the group. Turning to negotiations with Iran, Trump said the agreement currently under discussion makes it clear that Tehran will not obtain nuclear weapons. He warned that if Iran attempts to pursue such weapons, it would face severe consequences. Trump described the proposed agreement as a barrier preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms, while criticising the earlier nuclear accord negotiated during former President Barack Obama’s administration, calling it ineffective and saying it paved the way for Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Trump emphasised that the most important part of the agreement is the guarantee that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon, saying the condition is stated clearly in the deal. He further warned that Iran would face overwhelming retaliation if it moved toward developing nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities, however, have consistently maintained over the years that their nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful energy purposes and