Trump says Israel-Hezbollah fighting will stop, insists nuclear talks with Iran ongoing

Donald Trump claimed Monday that he personally brokered a halt to fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and said negotiations with Iran over ending the war were still moving forward — pushing back against reports that Tehran had cut off communications with Washington.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform Monday that he had held "a very productive call" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that "there will be no troops going to Beirut, and the troops that were on their way have already been turned back."

He then said he had also held "a very good call" with Hezbollah through "highest level representatives," claiming "they have agreed to stop all shooting."

"Israel will not attack them and they will not attack Israel," he added.

Shortly after Trump's announcement, Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the Israeli military had delayed a planned airstrike on Beirut at Washington's request.

A local source told Ynet that the U.S. government was pursuing a truce proposal and had asked Israel to hold off on the strike.

Axios reported that Nabih Berri, speaker of the Lebanese parliament and a key Hezbollah ally, had conveyed to the U.S. side that he was ready for a full and immediate ceasefire.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a Shiite residential area on the southern outskirts of Beirut.

Trump's direct intervention to halt the fighting appeared aimed at preventing the Israel-Hezbollah conflict from derailing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations.

Iran had recently declared Israel's attacks a violation of ceasefire terms and, in protest, suspended the exchange of messages with the U.S. related to the end-of-war agreement, according to Tasnim News.

As reports of a breakdown in negotiations spread, Trump quickly pushed back, saying "talks with Iran are continuing at a rapid pace."

In a phone interview with NBC, he said Iran "did not notify us of that," reiterating that negotiations were ongoing.

Trump also signaled a preference for a diplomatic solution over military action.

"Just because the talks stopped doesn't mean we go in there and start dropping bombs," he told NBC.

The remarks struck a notably more cautious tone compared with the military pressure he had been applying against Iran until recently.

In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump said oil prices would "crash very soon, very shortly."

The comment appeared designed to calm markets, which had been facing upward pressure on crude prices amid Middle East tensions and fears of a collapse in negotiations.

In an early-morning post on Truth Social that day, Trump also wrote that Iran "truly wants to make a deal" and that it would be "a good deal for Iran and for us and those working with us," adding, "Everything will ultimately work out well."