Trump: We’ll declare total victory over Iran in two weeks

President Trump says Middle East deal is close after latest flare-up between Israel and Iran.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration is close to reaching a Middle East agreement involving Iran, after a brief but sharp exchange of fire between Israel and Iran threatened to unravel a fragile ceasefire.

Speaking after returning from an NBA Finals game in New York, Trump said negotiations were nearing completion.

“We’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” he told reporters.

Asked whether the deal could be reached within days or weeks, Trump said it would take “two or three days.”

The remarks came hours after Trump urged Israel and Iran to stop fighting.

The latest round began Sunday after Israel struck targets in Beirut following rocket fire at northern Israel.

Iran then launched missiles toward Israel, and Israel responded with strikes on Iranian air defense systems and other targets.

By Monday evening, both sides had paused direct attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fighting with Iran had stopped “for now,” while warning that Israel would respond if attacked again.

Iran also said it was ending its attacks but warned of a harsh response if Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue.

Trump said he intervened to protect negotiations with Tehran and prevent the fighting from escalating.

“All I did is say we have to use sense. We’re very close to signing a very powerful deal, a very good deal,” Trump said in a brief phone call with BBC North America editor Sarah Smith.

He said Israeli strikes had already been launched before he spoke with Netanyahu.

“They had already gone,” Trump said, referring to Israeli missiles.

Trump also suggested that Netanyahu follows his direction when pressed by the president.

“If I tell him to do something, he does it,” Trump said.

During a separate tele-rally for Sen. Lindsey Graham, Trump said Washington would soon be able to claim success in its confrontation with Iran.

“We’ve been a very tough team, and I think we are winning that battle, but you’re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory,” Trump said. “It’ll be a total victory. It’ll happen very soon, and oil prices will come tumbling down.”

The White House has not released the text of any final agreement.