Trump: Iran must stop funding Hezbollah

President Trump says ceasefire does not prevent Israel from striking Hezbollah in self-defense, adds that Lebanon must legalize contact with Israelis.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran must halt its funding of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, President Donald Trump said on Thursday after announcing an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House, Trump said that the truce in Lebanon, which was reached during talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington, did not prevent Israel from using force against Hezbollah terrorists for self-defense.

“Well, look, Israel has to… defend itself if they are shot at. And they will,” Trump said. “I would never say that they can’t. It would be nice if they wouldn’t have to bother with that.”

“If something happens, they are going to have to defend themselves, as you know. But they are going to do it carefully and they are going to be surgical, as opposed to beyond surgical. You know, there is a lot they can do. But Israel is going to have to defend itself.”

When asked whether Iran would necessarily be obligated under the terms of a potential nuclear deal with the United States to halt its support for Hezbollah, Trump answered in the affirmative.

“Yeah, they will have to cut that off. Yeah, sure, that is a must, yeah.”

During the question-and-answer session, a Lebanese journalist asked Trump to weigh in on the ban imposed by the Lebanese government on contact with Israeli citizens.

“According to Lebanese law, we cannot communicate with Israelis,” the journalist said. “What can we do about this law? If we talk with Israelis, it will be a crime for us as Lebanese.”

Visibly surprised, Trump asked, “How is it a crime?”

“I think we have to end that,” Trump added. “OK, that is something that we are going to have to end. I have never heard of that. But that is a good start, if it is a crime to talk to Israel. I am pretty sure that that will be ended very quickly. OK? I will make sure of that.”