WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said negotiators were in the “final throes” of talks for a Middle East peace deal, following a halt in renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel that had threatened to reignite months of conflict.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that an agreement with Tehran is close, though diplomatic efforts have stalled in recent months, with both sides exchanging fire despite a ceasefire that has been in place since April 8.
He said Iran and Israel “were going back and forth and now they both agreed through me to stop and we’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” speaking to reporters after attending an NBA Finals game.
When asked whether a deal would take days or weeks, Trump said it could be finalized within “two or three days.”
He added that Tehran has insisted any agreement must include Lebanon, where Israel continues military operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah, and noted that missiles were fired at Israel on Sunday.
That escalation prompted Israeli retaliation, despite US calls for restraint.
Iran later fired another volley of missiles before announcing it was halting military action, after which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “fire on that front is contained.”
Tehran warned on Monday that it would resume attacks if Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued, while Netanyahu cautioned that Iran would face a strong response if it restarted hostilities.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military campaign in Lebanon would continue regardless and warned of strikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern Beirut in response to attacks on northern Israel.
Trump, who has reportedly become increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu, urged both sides to stop “shooting” and said “final negotiations” toward peace would proceed “subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.”
Netanyahu, however, maintained in a televised statement that Israel had informed Trump it retained “a full right to self-defense” and was exercising it accordingly.
According to Axios, Israel had been preparing for a major wave of strikes on Iran before Trump personally intervened and urged Netanyahu to stand down.
Trump told Axios: “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon.’”
US Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News that while Washington and Tel Aviv share many interests, there are also areas where their positions differ.
He said, “The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests. But we also have some situations where our interests diverge.”
Deadly strikes in Lebanon
Iran fired nearly 30 missiles at Israel, according to the Israeli military, while Israel carried out strikes on military targets inside Iran.
No casualties were reported in either country following the exchange of fire.
However, violence continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people on Monday, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The Israeli military said projectiles were launched at its troops operating in southern Lebanon, some of which were intercepted, while one landed near soldiers without causing injuries.
It later reported that a “suspicious aerial target” fired from Yemen was also intercepted.
Calm in Tehran
Despite fears of further escalation, Tehran remained relatively calm on Monday, with cafe terraces crowded and daily life largely continuing.
Traffic was lighter than usual for a weekday, and queues formed at petrol stations amid uncertainty.
Maryam, a 41-year-old accountant, described a “sense of uncertainty and confusion,” saying, “You don’t know if there’s going to be a war, nor do you know if the peace agreement will last.”
In Tel Aviv, residents again took shelter as air raid sirens sounded.
“I hope it will be short, but you can never know,” said Jonathan Ariel, 30. “Last time we thought it would be short and then it was a month.”
Iranian media reported that Tehran’s international airport, which had been closed during missile exchanges, had reopened and was receiving flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
Oil prices fell on Tuesday after rising more than five percent earlier, before easing back gains.
Still ‘at the negotiating table’
The exchange of fire between Iran and Israel came at a sensitive moment for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, involving mediator Pakistan.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said diplomacy was ongoing but could be affected by continued fighting.
During his briefing in Tehran, a large explosion reportedly shook the building, followed by additional blasts believed to be from air defence systems, according to an AFP reporter.
Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran carrying what he described as a “special letter” to Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian state media.
He has since returned to Pakistan, according to an official Pakistani source.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that Tehran remains “at the negotiating table.”