‘Israel Wouldn’t Be Around for Two Hours’: Trump Rebukes Netanyahu, Warns Against Derailing Iran Deal.

US President calls Israeli PM ‘very difficult guy’ after Beirut strike nearly torpedoed agreement; says Washington saved Israel from ‘nuke Armageddon’.

Washington D.C./Evian-les-Bains:-U.S. President Donald Trump launched a sharp rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, saying Israel “wouldn’t be around for two hours” if Iran had obtained a nuclear weapon. The comments came hours after Trump announced a framework agreement with Iran to end the 15-week conflict in the Middle East.

Trump: ‘Very Difficult Guy’ Who Should Be Thankful.

In a phone interview with _The New York Times_ and comments to Axios Trump called Netanyahu “a very difficult guy” and accused him of jeopardizing the U.S.-Iran peace deal.

“He’s a very difficult guy, and 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 said.

The remarks followed an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Sunday, which Trump said delayed the signing of the Iran agreement by several hours. “Why did Bibi have to do a f*ing attack? I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no f*ing judgment,” Trump told Axios.

Deal to End War, Reopen Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran had “finalised a memorandum of understanding” to end hostilities, halt all military operations, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deal is set to be formally signed in Switzerland on June 19.

Under the framework, Iran would suspend uranium enrichment for 15-20 years and accept “near-instant inspection access,” while the U.S. would end its naval blockade. Trump said the agreement would “bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon”.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait would remain closed until the deal is officially signed.

Trump to Netanyahu: ‘Don’t Back Out’ of Iran Talks.

Trump said he warned Netanyahu last week not to take actions that could disrupt nuclear negotiations. “I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution now,” Trump told reporters.

According to Axios Trump told Netanyahu he would have “no choice” but to accept any agreement Washington reaches with Tehran. “I call the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump said.

After a tense phone call Sunday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel would pause further strikes “for now.” Israeli ministers were reportedly told not to make public statements.

Israel Left Out, Pushback from Coalition.

Crucially, Israel was not part of the U.S.-Iran negotiations. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, called it a “dangerous deal” and said Israel does not consider itself bound by it.

Former PM Naftali Bennett called it “a dangerous turn in Israel’s security,” while ex-IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot described it as a “miserable result”.

What’s Next.

The deal sets up 60 days of technical talks on Iran’s nuclear program, mediated by Pakistan. Trump warned that if Iran fails to cooperate, he would “not hesitate to resume military strikes or exact a heavy financial price on the region”.

The G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, which Trump is attending, has been dominated by the Iran agreement. He told G7 leaders the deal was proof the U.S. “saved Israel from nuke Armageddon”.