Trump Rebukes Netanyahu Over Lebanon as Israel Defies Terms of U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

A historic U.S.-brokered peace agreement intended to end the 15-week war with Iran is facing a severe diplomatic hurdle, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly refused to withdraw military forces from southern Lebanon. The defiance has triggered a rare and highly public rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump, exposing a deep rift between the allied nations just days before the deal is expected to be signed.[1][2][4]

The friction centers on a memorandum of understanding negotiated between Washington and Tehran, which establishes a 60-day ceasefire and paves the way for broader diplomatic talks. According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the agreement explicitly requires Israeli forces to vacate territories occupied in Lebanon during the recent conflict. Araghchi warned foreign diplomats in Tehran that any continued occupation or military strikes would be viewed as a direct violation of the pact.[1][3]

Netanyahu, however, has flatly rejected those terms. In his first public remarks since the ceasefire was announced, the Israeli leader stated that his military would remain in Lebanon "for as long as necessary" to neutralize the threat posed by Hezbollah. Far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition echoed this sentiment, arguing that because Israel was not a direct party to the U.S.-Iran negotiations, it is not bound by the resulting memorandum.[1][3][4]

The Israeli military has backed up Netanyahu's rhetoric with continued operations. Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, including a bombing in Beirut and attacks near the southern city of Tyre, killed at least four people. The Israel Defense Forces have also issued new evacuation warnings for several southern Lebanese towns, signaling that ground operations will persist despite the overarching regional truce.[3][6]

President Trump expressed visible frustration with Israel's actions during the G7 summit in France. Speaking to reporters, Trump criticized Netanyahu's handling of what he termed a "minor war" against Hezbollah, stating that Israel should have finished the job faster. He specifically condemned the recent bombing of an apartment building in Beirut as "vicious," noting that such strikes inevitably cause civilian casualties and complicate the delicate diplomacy with Tehran.[1][2][5]

Trump's remarks underscored his growing impatience with his long-time ally. The U.S. President reminded reporters of his administration's unprecedented support for Israel, bluntly stating that without his intervention, "there would be no Israel." Trump suggested that the Syrian government might actually be better equipped to manage the Hezbollah threat, a stark pivot in U.S. rhetoric regarding regional security dynamics.[1][2]

Back in Washington, the Trump administration is working to finalize the details of the agreement ahead of an expected signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday. Vice President JD Vance announced that the full text of the memorandum will be released this week. Vance also pushed back against reports from Iranian state media claiming the U.S. would pay $300 billion in reconstruction reparations, clarifying that neighboring Gulf states would shoulder those costs.[3][4]

For Hezbollah, the Iranian assurances are critical. A media relations official for the Lebanese militant group confirmed they had received guarantees from Tehran that a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon would be demanded in the next phase of talks. This places the U.S. in the difficult position of having to enforce terms on an ally that feels its fundamental security requirements are being sidelined for a broader geopolitical win.[1]

The standoff highlights the complex, multi-front nature of the conflict. While the U.S. and Israel coordinated closely during the initial strikes against Iran—including the operation that killed Iran's supreme leader—their strategic objectives have diverged. Washington is eager to claim a historic diplomatic victory and stabilize the global economy, while Jerusalem remains focused on dismantling the immediate military threats on its northern border.[1][5]

As Friday's signing ceremony approaches, the international community is watching closely to see if Trump can leverage his self-described "unbelievable personal relationship" with Netanyahu to force a compromise. If Israel continues its campaign in Lebanon, Iran may refuse to sign the memorandum, plunging the Middle East back into a volatile and unpredictable state of war.[1][2][3]