US president links deal to stabilisation of energy markets Issues fresh warning against non-compliance by Tehran
US President Donald Trump has defended the interim agreement reached with Iran. saying the deal helped avert what could have become a global economic catastrophe while warning that military action could resume if Tehran failed to honour its commitments.
Speaking at the conclusion of the G7 summit on Wednesday, Trump said prolonging the conflict risked severe consequences for the global economy, particularly through disruptions to energy supplies. trade routes. He said shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had increased significantly since the truce.
He expressed hope that the agreement could pave the way for broader peace in the Middle East. warned that Washington could return to military action if Iran violated the terms of the accord. He also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for remaining neutral during the conflict.
"So, the one thing I didn't want to see is, I didn't want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going. that could have happened," Trump told a press conference at the end of the G7 summit in the French town of Evian-Les-Bains.
The war, which began with US. Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and spiralled into a broader regional conflict, has driven up energy prices, renewed inflationary pressures and sparked concerns about a major food supply crisis in developing countries.
However. after months of diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, both sides agreed to a 14-point document, titled "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding", which is scheduled to be signed on Friday (tomorrow), opening a 60-day window to negotiate a permanent settlement of disputes.
Trump warned that he could bomb Iran again if Iran did not honour the deal. "We're going to bomb the hell out of them (Iran) if they violate the agreement," Trump said. Earlier. he had said: "If I don't like it, if they (Iran) don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?"
Trump gently rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his tactics in Lebanon. "We have a little dispute over Lebanon. I say you can do a little softer touch, Bibi[Netanyahu]," he said. "You don't have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that's from Hezbollah."
Later. speaking in Paris, Trump said that?it would be unfair for Iran not?to have ballistic missiles if other countries have them. "If Saudi Arabia?and Qatar,. they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it's okay," Trump told reporters.
Trump said that?the United States will leave its?military in the Gulf "for a while" after the?deal. He thanked Chinese President Xi. Russian President Putin for remaining "neutral" during the war with Iran, saying they had not thwarted his efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"I just want to thank them because they made it a lot better," Trump said. "I want to thank China, President Xi. I was with him, and he stayed neutral, totally neutral, and I appreciate it," Trump said. "And I want to thank Vladimir Putin, he was very neutral. They could have made it much more difficult for us."
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