US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act responsibly
June 16, 2026: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to be “more responsible” amid the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Speaking alongside Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said he was unhappy with Israel’s strike on Beirut that took place shortly before the reported Iran agreement. He also reiterated his longstanding support for Israel, stating that “without me, there would be no Israel.”
Trump said the agreement between the United States and Iran had been completed and was moving into a second phase. Describing it as a “fair and good” deal, he stressed that Washington would not invest money in Iran and had no financial obligations under the arrangement. The US President added that the primary objective remained preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, calling the agreement a safeguard that creates a barrier against any future nuclear ambitions.
The US leader also claimed that Iran now has “rational leadership” and warned that severe consequences would follow if Tehran attempted to pursue nuclear weapons. Addressing the wider regional conflict, Trump expressed concern over the number of deaths in Lebanon and criticised the destruction of residential buildings during operations against Hezbollah. He argued that civilians were being affected by the fighting and suggested that Syria could potentially play a role in dealing with Hezbollah as part of broader regional stability efforts.