US President Donald Trump says a new agreement with Iran will ensure Tehran never acquires a nuclear weapon, as details begin to emerge about a framework deal intended to end months of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Trump described the agreement as a decisive barrier against Iran obtaining nuclear capabilities, insisting that preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon was the central objective of the negotiations.
“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters. “That’s about 99.9 percent of what I wanted.”
The agreement was first announced on Sunday by Pakistan, which played a key mediating role in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
While the full text has yet to be released publicly, US officials say both sides have already signed the framework electronically, with a formal signing ceremony expected in Geneva later this week.
Trump indicated the agreement would be submitted to Congress and said he intends to publicly read the document once it is formally signed.
Despite the breakthrough, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding some of the deal’s provisions.
Iranian officials claim the agreement includes commitments toward economic reconstruction, sanctions relief and measures to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran has also linked peace in Lebanon to the broader agreement, arguing that Israel must halt military operations there.
The Trump administration has pushed back on several of those claims. US officials have denied that Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon forms part of the agreement and dismissed reports suggesting Washington would finance reconstruction efforts in Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the deal’s most sensitive components. Trump has said the crucial shipping route will reopen under the agreement, although few details have been released.
Ship traffic through the waterway remains significantly below normal levels. Maritime data shows only a handful of vessels have passed through the strait since the announcement, compared to more than 100 daily crossings before the conflict disrupted regional trade.
The agreement also appears to be creating fresh political challenges for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump again criticised Israeli military operations in Lebanon, suggesting the scale of some attacks was excessive.
“You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody,” the US president said.
The comments are the latest sign of growing differences between Washington and Jerusalem over how to manage regional security following the Iran deal.
Israeli officials have insisted they will maintain freedom of action against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and have rejected suggestions of a military withdrawal.
Meanwhile, Qatar, another key participant in the negotiations, said it was cautiously optimistic that the agreement could create a foundation for broader regional stability and future talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The current framework extends a ceasefire for 60 days while negotiators work toward a comprehensive settlement. Technical discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities are expected to begin immediately.
Whether the agreement ultimately succeeds may depend on what emerges from those negotiations over the next two months, with supporters calling it a breakthrough and critics warning it could prove weaker than previous nuclear agreements.
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
