Trump Claims Israel-Hezbollah Halt, Iran Talks Resume Amid Clashes

President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stop attacks on each other, describing indirect contacts that produced a commitment from both sides to cease fire. The announcement came as the administration seeks to revive negotiations with Iran, where Tehran has conditioned any broader agreement on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, through intermediaries, with Hezbollah representatives. He wrote that Hezbollah had agreed all shooting would stop and that Israel would not attack the group. Netanyahu confirmed the conversation but indicated Israel would continue plans to strike Beirut if Hezbollah resumes attacks. Lebanon’s embassy in Washington described the outline as a swap in which Hezbollah would halt rocket fire in exchange for an end to Israeli strikes on the capital and its southern suburbs.

The timing reflects pressure on the White House to stabilize multiple fronts. Iran has listed an Israeli exit from Lebanon among its conditions for ending the sporadic conflict that began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier this year. Administration officials have said a memorandum of understanding with Tehran is under revision, with disputes centering on Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump told CNBC he was indifferent to whether talks continued, calling them boring if they dragged on.

The public statement contrasted with reports of a sharper private exchange. Axios, citing U.S. officials, described an expletive-filled call in which Trump accused Netanyahu of making Israel widely disliked and questioned the purpose of expanded operations in Lebanon. Netanyahu’s office has not confirmed the details of the language used.

The developments arrive as Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to testify before four congressional committees this week on the State Department budget. Lawmakers from both parties have signaled interest in restricting presidential war powers and scrutinizing the costs of continued operations against Iranian forces. Rubio is expected to face questions on whether the administration can sustain military pressure while simultaneously seeking diplomatic off-ramps.

Hezbollah’s status as a U.S.-designated terrorist organization adds a layer of legal and diplomatic complication. No previous American president has held even indirect talks with the group. The administration has not clarified whether the contacts were conducted through a third country or through Lebanese government channels.

For now, the reported understanding remains fragile. Netanyahu has preserved the option to resume strikes, and Iran’s willingness to finalize any deal still hinges on verifiable steps by Israel in Lebanon. The White House has offered few specifics on enforcement mechanisms or timelines, leaving open the question of how long the pause in fighting will hold.