Trump says he would 'start the process again' if Iran deal fails; Lebanon talks independent

Details of the agreement between the US and Iranto end the warbetween them were provided to journalists by US officials.

According to the US daily The New York Post, which published a text purporting to be the agreement, the two countries would discuss a mechanism for handling Iran's enriched uranium stocks "with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency."

"The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal," The New York Post quoted the agreement as saying.

The agreement also addresses the sanctions imposed on Iran, saying the US "undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions" against Iran.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue," the text read.

Both sides will agree on a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the agreement, as well as of the final deal, should it be reached within the 60-day period.

Iran-US peace deal leaves many major issues unresolved

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US President Donald Trump spoke about Washington's cooperation with Israel, specifically with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the G7 meeting, Trump said the Israeli leader is "a good man, but he gets a little excited sometimes."

Trump said the two leaders have "a little dispute" on the Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

"I told him he could do it softer," Trump said.

"When two drones are shot into the desert and harm nobody you don't have to shut down buildings."

Speaking about the Middle East's future, the US leader said he hopes more countries would join the Abraham Accords, which would mean normalizing relations with Israel.

"Saudi Arabia will be doing themselves a favor to join," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump said the agreement with Iran was welcome by world leaders.

"Not one leader said: Please sir, keep dropping bombs on them," Trump said at the G7 meeting in France.

"Only stupid people say that," he added, while also saying the agreement will prevent Iran from securing nuclear weapons, saying the agreement saved the world from a "nuclear Holocaust."

"Technical discussion on the removals of all stockpiles of uranium will begin immediately," Trump said, also mentioning the Gulf states are going to be part of the process.

Regarding the issue of Iran's ballistic missiles, the US leader said Tehran "gotta have some" as other countries have them, too.

"Missiles are not the problem," Trump said, explaining they cannot "blow up the whole planet."

Lebanon, Trump said, is a "small piece of the puzzle," but a "very noisy one," while also saying the Israeli strikes in the country go too far.

"When two drones are shot into the desert and harm nobody you don't have to shut down buildings. They could do a much better job for Hezbollah"

US President Donald Trump said that the US would "start the process again" in the event of Iran not agreeing to the final agreement.

"I would think they ‌would do it," ‌Trump ​said on the sidelines of the G7 ​conference in France, when asked about

the ⁠prospects ​for a ​deal.

"If they don't, then ​that's, you ‌know, that's okay. We'll have ​to ⁠start the process again, ⁠and ​we don't lose," Trump said.

A signing ceremony of the agreement is expected to take place on Friday in Switzerland

If the agreement goes ahead, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's key oil shipping routes, will reopen for traffic again on Friday.

The war has effectively shut down the flow of crucial gas and oil supplies for months, causing a spike in global energy prices. Around 20% of the world's crude oil supply is transported through the vital channel.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said talks with Israel in Washington next week — which seek to bring an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah — were an indpendent process and not linked to the US-Iran deal.

"The assurances we have received, and what we insist on, is that Lebanon's path in the negotiations is independent, though we are certainly for a ceasefire and for any country that helps us, including Iran," Aoun said, in a statement published by his office.

Aoun is hopeful that the fifth round of talks "will be more positive, particularly considering the US administration's great interest in Lebanon."

"The Lebanese state is sovereign in its decision-making, and for the first time, it is the one conducting the negotiations, and nobody is negotiating for us," he said.

"I reassure the Lebanese that nobody is tying us to any other country, and any settlement will be through us, not at our expense," he added.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations with Israel along with the the Lebanese governments decision to disarm the militant group.

Lebanon was pulled into the war in March when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion.

Could Israel's actions jeopardize Middle East peace deal?

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