Trump threatens Iran with 'nuclear holocaust' hours after bragging about peace

President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with a “nuclear holocaust” unless it accepts a deal with the U.S.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One en route to Las Vegas, the President claimed the U.S. is “very close to making a deal with Iran” before setting out what he characterised as the advantages of such an agreement.

“If that happens, oil goes way down, prices go way down, inflation goes way down, and much more importantly, you won’t have a nuclear holocaust,” Trump stated.

Israel and Lebanon have reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement following weeks of exchanged strikes and an Israeli bombing campaign that has claimed the lives of over 2,100 people in the Middle Eastern nation that borders Israel to the north.

Trump announced the precise time the 10-day ceasefire will come into effect, posting a boastful message on Truth Social and claiming credit for the agreement.

“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST.

“On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,” he continued. “I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE.

“It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.

A ceasefire accord between Israel and Lebanon could carry profound consequences for any prospective peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. Tehran made clear during the initial, unsuccessful peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan that a ceasefire in Lebanon was an essential prerequisite, without which Iran would not agree to any American demands.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, conveyed to his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, that Tehran is championing a permanent ceasefire “in all conflict zones.” He further stated that a ceasefire in Lebanon is “just as important” as in Iran.

Trump invites leaders of Israel, Lebanon to the White House for direct peace talks

Trump extended invitations to the leaders of both Israel and Lebanon to attend direct peace negotiations at the White House, posting a further message on his Truth Social platform. “In addition to the statement just issued, I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago,” he wrote. “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

However, the last substantive discussions between the two nations were actually held in 1993, not 1983 as Trump stated. It remains unclear whether this was a typographical error or a deliberate reference to the era of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

Aoun refuses direct talks with Netanyahu

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declined to engage directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. The reported remarks were made during a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Aoun stating that Washington “understands Lebanon’s position.”

Aoun’s office confirmed that a call with Rubio had taken place, yet made no mention of any potential discussions with Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s office similarly remained silent on the matter.

Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington, following more than a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon has maintained that a ceasefire must be secured to halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before any direct negotiations can proceed, while pledging to commit to disarming the group. Washington has yet to publicly declare its backing of a ceasefire as a precondition, while the Israeli government has characterised the talks as peace negotiations centred on the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Israel and Hezbollah continued to trade fire across the border, with Hezbollah launching rockets and drones at towns in northern Israel. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon intensified, particularly around the cities of Tyre, Nabatieh and the strategically significant town of Bint Jbeil, situated close to the Israeli border.

Israel and Lebanon have technically remained in a state of war since Israel’s founding in 1948, with Lebanon remaining deeply divided over any form of diplomatic engagement with Israel.

Israeli forces have advanced further into southern Lebanon in a bid to establish what officials have described as a “security zone,” which Netanyahu has stated will stretch at least 5 to 6 miles into Lebanese territory.