Trump Ready for Dialogue with Hezbollah if Requested by Lebanese President
President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday his readiness to negotiate with the Lebanese group Hezbollah if requested by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, noting that Aoun "has lived with Hezbollah for a long time." This came during his meeting with the Lebanese President at the White House, where he addressed Aoun, saying: "If the President wishes for me to speak with Hezbollah, and he has lived with them for a long time, I will do that." Trump indicated that relations between the United States and Lebanon are "good," commending President Aoun. He affirmed that both sides held "fruitful meetings" and that Washington would work to "solve many issues" related to Lebanon. Trump described Lebanon as a country that has "suffered from mistreatment for a long time," but is a "country that enjoys a good relationship with the United States," during his reception of Aoun at the White House. He praised the Lebanese President as someone who "commands great respect," noting that the meetings between Washington and Beirut were good, and there is a possibility "to resolve many of Lebanon's problems." Trump clarified that Lebanon "could be a dangerous place in many respects," in reference to its security and political challenges, without elaborating. During the meeting, President Aoun commended Trump, saying: "You are a great president," to which Trump jokingly replied: "He knows how to influence me, and he can get anything." Regarding the Israeli military presence in Lebanon, Trump stated that Israeli forces are "in the process of withdrawing and redeploying to other areas," describing the engagement between the two sides as "good," and the agreement signed with Lebanon as "wonderful." Concerning navigation in the Red Sea, Trump explained that the United States would intervene to counter any attempt by the Houthis to impose restrictions on vessel movement or threaten maritime trade. He affirmed that Washington "would deal" with any action targeting navigation, in reference to the risks of imposing restrictions on one of the world's most vital maritime passages. The American President pointed to previous operations against the Ansar Allah group (Houthis), noting that the group had not caused problems for Washington "for a long time" since those actions. He warned that any new attempt to affect vessel movement or threaten navigation security would be met with an American response, without specifying the nature of the measures. On the subject of Iran, the American President reported that there are "behind-the-scenes dialogues" with Tehran, claiming that it is pleading for a deal and genuinely seeking a meeting to end the conflict. Responding to a question about the absence of indications of Iran's readiness to cease hostilities, he said: "How do you know that? You don't know what secret dialogue is going on," adding that the Iranians "desperately want to meet to end the matter." Trump added: "Until they are ready to meet meaningfully, we have no interest in meeting with them," confirming the United States' continued military pressure on Iran. Trump stated that his country is working to "undermine Iran's capabilities to unexpected levels," and that Tehran "is suffering significant damage," according to his description. He stated that Iran would need, if American operations ceased, "20 or 25 years to rebuild," asserting: "We are not finished yet, and we will not leave now." Regarding the nuclear file, Trump warned that the United States would target any new Iranian nuclear facility if Tehran attempted to rebuild its capabilities, saying: "Any site the Iranians consider reactivating, we will strike very hard." He indicated that American strikes had inflicted severe damage on Iran, emphasizing that the extent of it "is known only to the Iranians themselves," and added that the United States would have achieved "great success" even if it withdrew now, but it would not do so. Trump also touched upon the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the blockade or restrictions on navigation are still ongoing, and that "no one is crossing" the Strait, amid increasing international concerns about the security of this vital maritime passage. Trump also spoke about Iran in the context of human rights, accusing Iranian authorities of killing civilians, and stating that "young children are being killed with indifference," adding that more than 52,000 people have been killed, according to his claim. Trump affirmed that the continuation of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would not affect the American midterm elections, stressing that his administration's priorities are focused on "confronting the Iranian threat."
