President Donald Trump brushed off Iran’s decision to abandon its nuclear memorandum with the United States, declaring Saturday: “I couldn’t care less.” He reiterated that Washington’s priority remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and called the deaths of two US service members in Jordan “a very sad thing,” saying they died “in service of our country.”

Trump’s remarks came after Tehran declared his signature “worthless and invalid” and warned it would enter a more “offensive and destructive” phase if US attacks continue, threatening American forces across the region.

Hours later, US Central Command announced an eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, saying American forces hit air defense systems, missile and drone sites, maritime capabilities, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets linked to the attack that killed the two US troops in Jordan. Iran later claimed it had launched strikes against US military targets in Kuwait.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff came under intense fire from lawmakers during their first congressional briefing since the Trump administration signed its controversial memorandum of understanding with Iran.

The two officials insisted the administration’s goal remains a final agreement that would eliminate Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while stressing that sanctions relief will not come until a permanent deal is reached. But Democrats warned the agreement risks strengthening Tehran, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries accusing Trump of emerging from a “reckless and costly war” that left Iran in a stronger position than before.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer blasted the briefing as “delayed, deficient, and devoid of details,” warning the deal could hand Iran billions in oil revenue while allowing it to retain dangerous leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio and Witkoff responded by insisting the US remains ready to strike Iran again if it threatens international shipping, even as negotiations continue.

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Has the Republican backlash over President Donald Trump’s Iran deal reached the White House? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has drawn a series of hard red lines that appear to diverge from Trump’s more conciliatory approach toward Tehran.

Rubio declared the US will never allow Iran to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz and insisted any final agreement must ultimately confront Tehran’s regional terror network, including Hamas and Hezbollah. His remarks come after Trump suggested Iran could retain some ballistic missiles and has largely avoided publicly demanding action against its proxy forces.

The apparent disconnect comes as negotiations face their first major test, with Iran refusing to discuss its missile program, rejecting key nuclear inspection demands, and insisting it will maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz—raising fresh doubts over whether Trump’s controversial deal can survive.

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“He better watch his mouth. He better shape up, or we’ll take over the rest of the country,” Trump said.

By World Israel News Staff

As talks between the United States and Iran got underway in Switzerland, US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Tehran, demanding that it rein in Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups operating in Lebanon.

In a post on social media, Trump said Iran must immediately stop its “highly paid proxies” in Lebanon from “causing trouble,” warning that the United States would strike Iran again if the attacks continued.

“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder,” Trump wrote.

The warning came after Trump told Fox News that the current arrangement with Iran is “not a deal with the Iranian regime” but rather an extension of the ceasefire reached following last week’s confrontation.

Trump said he remains in a strong negotiating position and warned that Iran faces serious consequences if it fails to honor its commitments.

“I hold the cards,” Trump told Fox News. “If the Iranians do not fulfill their obligations at the negotiating table, I have the option of 60 days and then I’ll do what I want.”

According to Fox News, Trump also revealed that he spoke with Iranian officials overnight and warned them against disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“You close the strait and you won’t have a country,” Trump reportedly told the officials, adding that the United States would respond forcefully to any attempt to block maritime traffic.

Trump also responded sharply to remarks by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who declared that Iran would never relinquish what it considers its right to enrich uranium.

Warning Tehran to tone down its rhetoric, Trump said: “He better watch his mouth. He better shape up, or we’ll take over the rest of the country.”

The president’s comments came amid continued fighting in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has launched repeated attacks against Israeli forces despite ongoing calls for a ceasefire.

Trump also expressed frustration with Israel’s inability to decisively defeat Hezbollah, telling Fox News he was disappointed that Israel “cannot move Hezbollah” and suggesting he was close to “giving it to Syria.”

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance pushed back against criticism of the administration’s handling of Lebanon during the opening stages of the Switzerland meetings.

After a reporter accused Israel of carrying out what she described as a “genocide in Lebanon” and argued that ending the fighting should be the priority, Vance defended the administration’s record.

“I think Trump and the U.S. have done more to stop the conflict in Lebanon than any government anywhere in the world,” Vance said.

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President Donald Trump argued that without his backing, Israel would have been “eviscerated” during the regional conflict.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump said he was keeping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in check and suggested that Jerusalem would ultimately follow his directives, even when Israeli leaders oppose U.S. policy, according to an interview published by Axios on Friday.

Speaking about rumored rifts with Netanyahu, Trump said their relationship is “good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane.”

Trump went further in describing the power dynamic between Washington and Jerusalem, arguing that the United States has the final say over Israeli military operations because of the scale of American support. He said Israeli officials “do as I say” because “they have a lot of respect for me.”

The president also emphasized the extent of U.S. military backing for Israel, saying Washington controls “the guns” and “B-2 bombers,” and asserting that without American support, the Jewish state would not have survived its current regional challenges.

“If it weren’t for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated,” the president said, referring to himself in the third person.

Trump also pointed to his role in the June 2025 war between Israel and Iran, highlighting his decision to authorize extensive strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites. He paired that with a reminder that he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama — an agreement that Israel strongly opposed at the time.

The comments also followed sharp criticism from Vice President JD Vance, who rebuked Israeli opposition to the agreement and suggested that Israeli leaders should be more cautious in publicly challenging the White House.

“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance said in an interview last week.

“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower,” he added.

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The IDF was reportedly ordered to halt offensive operations in southern Lebanon despite surrounding one of Hezbollah’s most important underground command complexes, where around 30 Hezbollah terrorists are believed to be trapped inside a massive Iranian-built bunker beneath the Ali Taher Ridge near Nabatieh.

Israeli forces now control the strategic high ground overlooking Nabatieh and the Tyre Valley—Hezbollah’s two main strongholds in southern Lebanon—placing the terror group’s command centers, weapons depots, and logistics network under direct Israeli fire. Senior military officials reportedly warned that pausing the offensive now could allow the trapped terrorists to escape and squander one of the campaign’s biggest strategic victories. “We must not withdraw from there,” one senior commander said.

The order comes as the Trump administration races to save its fragile Iran diplomacy. The US-Iran negotiations, opening today at the Qatari-owned Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland, are expected to begin with emergency discussions on the escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Israeli officials warn the battlefield, not the negotiating table, is now shaping the future of both the Lebanon ceasefire and the broader regional deal with Iran.

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Opposition to President Donald Trump’s Iran deal is now erupting across the political spectrum, with top Democrat Chuck Schumer denouncing the agreement as “the art of surrender.”

Schumer accused Trump of giving Tehran sweeping concessions while securing almost nothing in return, warning Democrats will reject any final deal that includes billions of dollars for Iran’s reconstruction. “The Iranians took him to the cleaners,” he said.

The criticism comes as Republican opposition continues to grow. Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, became the latest GOP heavyweight to break ranks, warning the deal could funnel up to $6 billion a month to what he called a “revolutionary terrorist regime.” Cotton cautioned the money would be used to rebuild Iran’s missiles and drones and bankroll Hamas and Hezbollah, while urging Trump to restore military pressure if Tehran violates the agreement.

Cotton joins a growing bipartisan chorus that includes Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, and Bill Cassidy, all warning the deal rewards Iran with sanctions relief and economic aid while leaving its missile program, nuclear infrastructure, and terrorist proxies largely intact.

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei struck a defiant tone just hours after Tehran signed its memorandum of understanding with the United States, warning that Iran will never submit to Washington’s “excessive demands.”

Khamenei revealed he had opposed the agreement in principle and approved it only after receiving personal guarantees from President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iran’s negotiating team that the country’s interests and the “Resistance Front” would be protected. He insisted it was President Donald Trump who was “desperate” to secure the deal, not Iran.

The comments underscore the fragile nature of the agreement. Even as the two sides begin a 60-day negotiating period, Tehran is already drawing red lines, insisting its ballistic missile program is non-negotiable, its enriched uranium will remain inside Iran, and warning that continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon would be viewed as a violation of the agreement.

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Critics argue the agreement grants Iran major concessions with little in return.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump is facing significant backlash from members of his own party and prominent conservative commentators after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran that critics argue rewards the Islamic Republic and hands Tehran a major diplomatic victory.

The text of the agreement was made public following its signing on Wednesday and contains several provisions that opponents say amount to substantial concessions to Iran.

Among the benefits outlined in the MoU is a commitment to provide Iran with access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund, as well as the immediate lifting of sanctions that allows Tehran to resume oil exports. Critics have also noted that the agreement does not require Iran to surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium or other nuclear materials.

The deal has drawn criticism from both former Trump administration officials and influential conservative figures.

Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official, described the agreement as “possibly the most humiliating in U.S. diplomatic history.”

Taylor argued that the MoU grants Iran “hundreds of billions in exchange for a ‘promise’ we already had,” referring to Tehran’s commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and refrain from developing a nuclear weapon.

Critics note that the Strait of Hormuz was open before the conflict erupted and point to Iran’s history of enriching uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade purity despite repeated international assurances.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also condemned the agreement, comparing it to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama.

“The reported MOU with Iran smacks of the kind of appeasement that we saw during the Obama years, the kind of appeasement that Joe Biden tried to accomplish and was ignored by the Iranians, and the kind of appeasement we categorically rejected during the first Trump administration,” Pence wrote on X.

Will Chamberlain, senior counsel at the Article III Project and vice president of external affairs at the Edmund Burke Foundation, likewise criticized the agreement.

Writing on X, Chamberlain said the “deal is absolutely terrible.”

He further argued that the MoU “gives Iranians huge, immediate financial benefits and protection for Hezbollah in exchange for opening the Strait – and nothing else.”

Chamberlain concluded by urging that “President Trump should renege” on the agreement.

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President Donald Trump joked that Vice President JD Vance will be the one to blame if the controversial Iran deal falls apart, quipping: “If it works out, I’ll take the credit. If it doesn’t, I’m blaming JD.”

Trump on Iran negotiations: If it works out, I'll take the credit. If it doesn't, I'm blaming JD. pic.twitter.com/9LVpBKH0Ra

— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) June 17, 2026

The remark comes as Vance has emerged as the administration’s strongest public advocate for the agreement, becoming its chief defender in media appearances and leading the US delegation to Friday’s signing ceremony in Geneva. He has also insisted Israel will eventually embrace the deal despite fierce opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The joke carries added political weight amid reports that Vance has become one of the leading voices inside the White House urging Trump to pursue diplomacy over military escalation and adopt a tougher stance toward Netanyahu during recent disputes over Iran and Lebanon.

Behind Trump’s humor lies a growing political storm. The agreement has sparked an open revolt among Republican hawks and many pro-Israel supporters, who argue it grants Iran sweeping concessions while leaving its nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile program, and terrorist proxies largely intact. well beyond the White House.

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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has hailed President Donald Trump’s emerging agreement with Iran as a “great victory” for Tehran, claiming it forced Israel to halt its military campaign in Lebanon and marked a “pivotal moment” for the country.

Qassem praised Iran for ensuring Lebanon was included in the US-backed deal and urged the Lebanese government to use the agreement to pressure Israel into withdrawing from southern Lebanon. He also rejected any negotiations over Hezbollah’s disarmament, insisting the terror group’s weapons are not up for discussion.

His remarks came as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisted Beirut’s talks with Israel remain separate from Trump’s regional agreement, while Israeli officials have warned the deal could strengthen Hezbollah by easing pressure on Iran without dismantling its terror network.

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Trump’s newly signed and released Iran deal is fueling controversy, with critics warning that Tehran received substantial concessions while retaining key leverage.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump has formally signed the controversial U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, but the biggest story may not be the signing itself.

It is what was signed.

After days of speculation and secrecy, the full text of the agreement has now emerged, revealing a framework that would provide Iran with sweeping economic benefits while postponing many of the most contentious security issues to future negotiations.

The deal, signed by Trump on Wednesday during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, was also signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

A White House official confirmed that a photograph of the signed document was transmitted to Iran and the countries that mediated the negotiations. As he left Versailles, Trump acknowledged the signing, telling reporters, “It’s signed, yes.”

With both leaders having signed the memorandum, plans for a formal signing ceremony in Geneva were canceled.

The newly released text helps explain why the agreement has already generated concern among Israeli officials and many Iran hawks in Washington.

According to the 14-point memorandum, the United States would facilitate broad sanctions relief for Iran, support the resumption of Iranian oil exports, and work toward restoring Tehran’s access to frozen assets held abroad.

The agreement also outlines a massive economic development and reconstruction initiative that would channel over $300 billion into Iran over the coming years.

In return, Iran agrees to halt attacks on American forces and interests, cooperate in efforts to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and participate in additional negotiations aimed at reaching a broader long-term agreement.

What the memorandum does not appear to do, however, is immediately dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Instead, some of the most critical questions—including uranium enrichment, missile development, inspection mechanisms, and long-term enforcement provisions—would be addressed during a future negotiating period expected to last approximately 60 days.

The agreement does not seek to curtail Iran’s support of terror proxies in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and pro-Iran Iraqi militias.

Supporters of the agreement argue that the memorandum successfully ended a dangerous regional conflict that threatened to draw the United States deeper into another Middle Eastern war.

They contend that stabilizing the region, reopening maritime trade routes, and reducing the risk of escalation are important achievements that create space for a more comprehensive agreement.

Critics see something very different.

They argue that Tehran is receiving significant economic relief upfront while retaining much of the leverage it has accumulated over years of nuclear development and regional aggression.

For Israel, the concern is particularly acute.

Jerusalem has long maintained that any acceptable agreement with Iran must permanently dismantle the regime’s pathway to nuclear weapons and substantially curtail its ability to arm and fund terrorist proxies throughout the region.

The text appears to stop short of those objectives.

Iranian officials, meanwhile, have celebrated another victory in the negotiations.

According to reports from Iranian media, Tehran insisted that a Persian-language version of the memorandum be prepared and formally recognized as an official text alongside the original agreement.

Iranian negotiators reportedly viewed that demand as an important symbol of equal standing between the two countries.

Whether the memorandum ultimately becomes the foundation for a lasting peace or merely another temporary pause in a decades-long confrontation will depend on what happens during the next rounds of negotiations.

For now, however, one thing is clear: The debate is no longer about whether there is a deal.

It is about whether the price paid to secure it was too high.

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Vice President JD Vance pushed back against sharp criticism of the U.S.-Iran agreement during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, responding after Israeli journalist Yanon Magal called him a “lowlife” and described President Trump as a “loser” over the deal. Vance defended the administration’s approach and argued that many critics were mischaracterizing the agreement’s objectives.

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President Donald Trump is reportedly considering removing several senior administration officials who opposed the Iran memorandum of understanding, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to sources cited by Israel Hayom.

“The debate is over. Those who opposed it may pay a personal price,” a senior U.S. official told the outlet, describing internal White House deliberations over the agreement.

The report says Hegseth, Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials raised concerns about parts of the framework during internal discussions, while Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner argued in favor of the deal.

Rubio is reportedly not considered at risk, having largely avoided public criticism of the agreement and remaining popular within the administration.

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“Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump wrote.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump declared late Sunday that a U.S.-Iran agreement is complete, publicly confirming what had been hinted at earlier by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and signaling a dramatic breakthrough after months of negotiations and weeks of military confrontation.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“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. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”

Trump’s announcement came shortly after Sharif revealed that a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran had been reached and that a formal signing ceremony is expected to take place in Switzerland on June 19.

In his statement, Sharif said both sides had agreed to the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and credited mediation efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The breakthrough follows weeks of escalating tensions that saw Iran shoot down a U.S. Apache helicopter, triggering American retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets. Tehran later launched ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, while Washington imposed a naval blockade that sharply restricted Iranian oil exports and maritime traffic.

Trump spent much of Sunday defending the emerging agreement and pushing back against critics who compared it to the Obama-era nuclear deal.

In one Truth Social post, Trump insisted the agreement would permanently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon, and the Strait of Hormuz will be opening up for business very shortly,” he wrote.

In another, he criticized Democratic Sen. Jack Reed for comparing the agreement to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“Our Deal is a WALL against Iran ever having a Nuclear Weapon, the complete opposite of Obama,” Trump wrote, arguing that the new framework bears little resemblance to the agreement negotiated by the Obama administration.

The announcement also came after a phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid growing questions about how the emerging agreement could affect Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah and Iran’s regional proxy network.

While many details of the agreement remain unclear, Trump’s statement suggests that key issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade have already been resolved and that the administration believes the broader framework is complete.

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“This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran,” Trump wrote.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s strike on Beirut Sunday, warning that further military action could jeopardize what he described as a nearly completed peace agreement with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the attack should not have taken place, particularly as negotiations with Tehran appear to be entering their final stages.

“This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran,” Trump wrote.

The president emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself but argued that the Hezbollah attack that prompted the Israeli response was limited in scope and should not derail broader diplomatic efforts.

“Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless, nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and should not disrupt this important process,” Trump said.

Trump added that the United States is “very close” to reaching an agreement that could bring stability not only to Iran but also to Lebanon and the broader region.

“We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down,” he wrote.

The comments came just hours after Israeli warplanes struck a Hezbollah command center in Beirut’s Dahiyah district. According to the IDF, the facility was being used by Hezbollah operatives to coordinate attacks against Israeli civilians and troops operating in southern Lebanon.

The strike followed several days of Hezbollah attacks, including rocket fire toward Metula and multiple drone infiltrations into northern Israel. Israeli officials said the operation was carried out under a newly approved policy authorizing strikes in Beirut in response to launches from Lebanon that enter Israeli territory.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that Israel “will not tolerate fire toward its territory.”

According to Israeli reports, Jerusalem informed the United States through military channels before carrying out the operation.

Trump’s remarks highlight an increasingly delicate balancing act between Israel’s efforts to deter Hezbollah and the administration’s push to finalize a diplomatic agreement with Iran. Over the past week, Trump has repeatedly signaled that a U.S.-Iran deal is nearing completion, with reports suggesting a signing could take place within days.

The president concluded his message with a direct appeal for restraint from all sides.

“There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel,” Trump wrote.

“This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — let’s not blow it.”

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