Trump Claims Iran War Will End Soon as Israel and Lebanon Enforce Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the war with Iran will end soon. During a brief discussion on tax day in Nevada, Trump briefly commented on the war, stating, “It should end very soon.” Although he did not provide further details, he indicated that the conflict was progressing well. Trump also praised the U.S. military for launching rocket attacks. Last weekend, negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad ended unsuccessfully. However, mediators including Pakistan are working to initiate a second round of talks. The White House has confirmed that discussions concerning a potential second phase of peace talks are ongoing, though no date or location has yet been finalized.

A 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has now been implemented. The United States has indicated that this ceasefire could last for an extended period. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that the agreement would create an opportunity for a “historic agreement” with Lebanon. The Iran-backed Hezbollah group has also confirmed its commitment to honoring the ceasefire. The militant group stated that it must agree to halt attacks on Lebanese soil, with the condition that Israeli forces also cease activities in that territory.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would be confined within a “security zone” extending 10 kilometers inside southern Lebanon. Hezbollah opposes this stance as it conflicts with their demands. The U.S. Department of State has emphasized that under the agreement, the Lebanese government must take “meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Following the enforcement of the ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement indicating that in the past 24 hours, 380 Hezbollah targets had been attacked.

The Lebanese army, however, reported that Israeli attacks continue in their rural areas, constituting a violation of the ceasefire. President Trump called on Hezbollah to comply with the ceasefire as well. He also mentioned that leaders of Israel and Lebanon had been invited to the White House, though the outcome of these engagements remains to be seen.

Following the enforcement of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, oil prices declined in Asian markets on Friday. The global benchmark Brent crude oil price fell by approximately one percent, trading at $98.50 per barrel. Prices for oil traded from the United States also decreased.