Trump says Iran can keep ballistic missiles, criticizes Netanyahu over Lebanon

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Donald Trump said Wednesday at the G7 summit in France that Iran should not be barred from possessing ballistic missiles while other countries in the region maintain similar capabilities, as he defended the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement and publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Asked about Iran’s ballistic missile program during a press conference, Trump dismissed the idea that Tehran should be uniquely restricted.

“What am I supposed to do? Am I going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles but not Tehran? It just doesn’t work that way. Besides, missiles can hit a certain place, but they don’t blow up the Earth.”

Trump also confirmed that the United States had sent Israel the memorandum of understanding with Iran and said the agreement could be signed Thursday or Friday.

Referring to Netanyahu, Trump said: “You got what you wanted, Iran is not going to bomb you.”

The president described his relationship with Netanyahu as strong but acknowledged disagreements regarding Lebanon.

“There was an amazing partnership between Netanyahu and me — he was an outstanding prime minister,” Trump said. “I think it would be possible to act a little more moderately regarding Lebanon. There is a small disagreement between Bibi and me on that issue — maybe you don’t need to bring down a building every time a Hezbollah member enters it.”

Trump said Israel “could have done a better job regarding Hezbollah,” adding that while Israel has the right to defend itself, “they definitely could have handled the issue better.”

Discussing conditions in Lebanon, Trump said civilians were suffering from the continued fighting.

“There are people living their lives there, and buildings are collapsing on them or right next to them. How would you like to live there? It’s so unfair, especially in Beirut.”

Regarding the recent Israeli Air Force strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, Trump said: “That was a very big strike — in my opinion, it wasn’t necessary.”

Trump defended the emerging agreement with Iran, saying: “We got everything. Iran will not develop nuclear weapons, and at the same time markets are improving and oil prices are coming down.”

He added that without the agreement, “we would have continued dropping bombs for three years, the strait would still be closed and oil prices would be going crazy.”

Trump also argued that failure to reach an understanding with Iran could have triggered a severe economic crisis, saying: “If not for the agreement, we would have slid into a period like the Great Depression of 1929.”