‘Let’s Not Blow It!’: Trump Warns Israel’s Lebanon Strikes Could Scuttle Iran Peace Deal (UPDATED)

President Trump says a deal with Iran is imminent and urged restraint after Israeli strikes in Beirut threatened to derail progress; the situation is fluid, with diplomats and officials trading blame while the president pushed all sides to stand down to preserve what he calls a historic chance for peace.

UPDATED 1:05 PM EDT

President Trump told Fox News’ Trey Yingst that he believes a deal will be signed electronically with Iran in the next two to three hours, and that he has asked Iran to not respond to Iran’s strikes against Hezbollah. His statement frames the moment as delicate and time-sensitive, with a heavy emphasis on avoiding escalation that could ruin a breakthrough.

https://x.com/TreyYingst/status/2066193819586986011

Trump marked the day while celebrating his 80th birthday and said the signing was imminent, signaling that negotiators on both sides were close to a final agreement. Pakistan has been mentioned as an intermediary before, and questions remain about who within Iran will sign and under what authority given the country’s internal divisions.

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The administration is racing to lock in terms that would curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and reshape regional dynamics, but Israeli military activity in Lebanon has complicated the timing. Diplomats involved in the talks warned that any flare-up now could unravel the fragile momentum built over recent days.

We’ve seen talk of peace deals before, but this would seem to be the first time that President Trump has indicated a signing within the next day, which begs the question: Where? Will President Trump be embarking on Air Force One later on Saturday to fly to Pakistan, which nation has been acting as an intermediary? Also, who from Iran will be signing, and under what authority? We might remember that Iran’s leadership, or what’s left of it, is somewhat fragmented at the moment.

Reports from diplomats paint a tense picture: apparently minor exchanges can have outsized consequences when trust is limited and the margin for error is tiny. From a Republican perspective, the goal is clear—secure a deal that neutralizes Iran’s nuclear threat while avoiding fresh entanglements for the United States.

Then came news of strikes in Beirut, which some officials say are interfering with the final touches on the agreement. Any military action near negotiating tables risks giving opponents a reason to walk away or demand new concessions, making restraint politically and strategically urgent.

NEW: The strikes today in Beirut are creating issues with finalizing the deal, a diplomat involved in the talks told Fox News.

“This is a clear attempt by Israel to sabotage the President’s deal and drag the United States back into war,” the diplomat added.

A senior Israeli official rejected the notion that Israel is to blame for the exchange of fire.

“Hezbollah attacks have targeted Israeli civilians the past three days,” the official told Fox News.

President Trump stepped in publicly with a pointed message aimed at cooling tensions and protecting the deal’s prospects. He acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense while also insisting that the specific exchange that morning was minor and should not endanger the broader opportunity for peace.

This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran. Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless, nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and should not disrupt this important process. We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down. There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel. This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — Let’s not blow it! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

The president’s intervention is consistent with a negotiation-first playbook that prioritizes outcomes over unilateral escalation, and it reflects a Republican focus on using diplomacy backed by credible deterrence. Republicans skeptical of endless foreign interventions see value in locking down a deal that curbs Iran without reintroducing boots on the ground.

Still, reality on the ground can be messy. Militias, proxy forces, and hardline elements inside Tehran or aligned groups like Hezbollah can act unpredictably, testing whether political agreements hold under pressure. That uncertainty makes presidential attention and a clear message from Washington essential at this critical juncture.

For now, the administration appears to be balancing urgency with caution—pushing to finalize terms while urging all parties to halt actions that might derail the process. If the deal does come together, proponents argue it could reshape security in the region and reduce the risk of future direct conflict.

The coming hours and days will determine whether talks survive recent skirmishes and whether the president’s call for restraint translates into concrete calm on the ground. Observers should expect close monitoring, swift diplomatic shuttle work, and public statements aimed at preserving the fragile window for agreement.