Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “very difficult guy". Trump made this
remark during an interview with the New York Times. The US President also criticised Netanyahu for escalating attacks that could have derailed the final peace agreement between the US and Iran. “He’s a very difficult guy,” Trump said, while referring to Netanyahu. He even said that Netanyahu should be thankful to the US for the deal. “To be honest with you, he should be very thankful to us for doing this. Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn’t be around for two hours,” Trump told the media house. Trump's remarks came as the US and Iran agreed to a framework of a peace deal between them to end months of hostilities in the Middle East. As per the agreement, all military operations will be halted, and negotiations will resume between the two nations on several issues, including Tehran’s nuclear programme. Trump Announces Iran Deal: Trump on Sunday announced that an agreement had been reached with Iran and the United States will end its naval blockade, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump described the agreement as complete, saying, "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!" He added that he was authorising the immediate removal of the US naval blockade and the reopening of one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes. "Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!" Trump wrote. "I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade," he added.
In a subsequent post, Trump informed that the Strait of Hormuz would open "upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal."
Iran Confirms:
Iran's deputy foreign minister of legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed to Iranian media outlets that a memorandum for a peace deal to be signed on June 19 was finalised.
Gharibabadi stated that though the full deal will take effect on Friday, two issues would "take effect immediately starting early this morning". "1. A permanent and immediate end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. 2. The lifting and termination of the naval blockade that the United States had imposed against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he explained.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council also announced in a statement that it had finalised the memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire under the guidance of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
