Trump says Iran deal not final, US could resume strikes if talks fail

President Trump denies that the interim agreement with Iran has been finalized, says that US strikes on Iran are still on the table.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is not a final agreement and warned that the United States could resume military strikes if Tehran fails to comply with Washington’s demands.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump said the agreement expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday would begin a new phase of negotiations rather than end all disputes between Washington and Tehran.

“No, it’s not final. It’s a memorandum of understanding,” Trump said, speaking alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

“If I don’t like it, we will go back to shooting at them,” Trump said. “If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.”

“Because they misbehaved for 47 years,” he added, referring to Iran’s Islamic Republic, which was established after the 1979 revolution.

Trump also defended the framework as a strong agreement despite the lack of a publicly released text.

“It’s a very strong deal. Nobody knows what it is, but it’s very strong, and most people seem to be very happy,” he said.

The president said the agreement’s central purpose was to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“We have a deal that’s a fair deal. It’s a good deal,” Trump said. “It’s great for a lot of reasons, but number one, by far… is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

“If they do, all hell will rain down on them, and they’re not going to do that,” he added.

Trump also pushed back on reports that Iran would receive a large US-backed financial package under the emerging arrangement.

“We are not investing any money in Iran, by the way, and that rumor that got out there yesterday was ridiculous,” he said.

Reuters reported this week that the US-Iran memorandum has been signed by Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, with a formal signing ceremony expected Friday.

US officials said the agreement would begin a 60-day period for talks on a final settlement, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would begin to increase.

According to Reuters, US officials said any sanctions relief or release of Iranian assets would depend on Tehran’s willingness to engage with Washington on its nuclear program and stop funding regional groups described by the US as radical.

One official said Washington was prepared to provide limited early gestures if Iran made reciprocal moves.

“We are prepared to release frozen funds and we are prepared to relieve sanctions, and we’ll do some small gestures of that in the beginning if they make some small gestures to us that show that they’re willing to meet their commitments as well,” the official said.

The Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil and gas shipments, has been a central part of the talks after Iran disrupted maritime traffic during the war. Trump said Wednesday that the waterway was already beginning to reopen.

“The Strait is going to be opening. It’s already partially opened. It’s going to be opening up soon in full over the next day or two,” he said.

Trump said reopening Hormuz was necessary to avoid broader economic damage.

“The alternative would be a worldwide depression,” he said. “You know, the stupid people want to have a worldwide depression, and they’re stupid people. So you can only go so far.”

“You drive somebody into the ground, and a lot of bad things happen,” he added.

G7 leaders welcomed the interim agreement but said further negotiations must address Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

“We underline the need for the negotiation … to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon,” the leaders said in a statement.

The leaders also called for an “immediate robust ceasefire” in Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah, as questions remained over whether the US-Iran framework would affect Israel’s military campaign and presence in southern Lebanon.

Iran has said any permanent arrangement must also end Israeli operations in Lebanon. Israel, which was not a party to the US-Iran talks, has said it is not bound by the memorandum and will maintain freedom of action against Hezbollah.

The memorandum has also drawn scrutiny from US lawmakers and Israeli officials, who have asked to see the full text.

Trump said earlier this week that he was willing to send the agreement to Congress, though the administration has not yet released it publicly.

Trump said the agreement would now move to a second stage of talks.

“We have our deal done with Iran, and it should be successful. It goes to the second stage, which I think will actually be easier,” he said.