During a press conference on June 17, following the conclusion of the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump discussed the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU).
“I want to thank Chinese President Xi Jinping. He remained completely neutral,” Trump said, adding that “Russian President Vladimir Putin also displayed a very neutral stance.” He noted that given China's close ties with Iran, their involvement could have posed greater challenges for the U.S.
Trump specifically highlighted that China did not provide weapons to Iran, stating, “Thanks to them, the situation has improved significantly.”
He stressed, “The core of this MOU is that Iran will never possess nuclear weapons.” He warned that if Iran fails to adhere to the agreement, the U.S. would resume bombing until compliance is achieved.
Trump mentioned that the document signed online on June 14 could be officially finalized within a day or two, asserting that the negotiations are “almost certainly” going to be signed. He added that technical discussions regarding the handling of Iran's enriched uranium would begin immediately thereafter.
The draft agreement stipulates that the U.S. and Iran, along with their allied forces, will cease military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and work towards a final agreement within 60 days. However, differences regarding the Lebanon front and Israel remain variables.
Trump revealed that he has sent a copy of the online-signed MOU to Israel. Earlier, CNN reported that Israel had requested to review the agreement but was denied due to concerns about leaks before an official announcement.
While praising Israel as a “great partner,” Trump acknowledged differences regarding Lebanon. He described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a great guy, though sometimes he gets a bit excited,” emphasizing the need for a better response to the Hezbollah issue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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