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President Trump said Wednesday that the agreement reached with Iran is not a final deal and warned that the United States could resume bombing the country. Speaking publicly, Trump said the U.S. would restart strikes "if they don't behave."
The statement came as several other pieces of the fragile agreement remained unsettled, according to CBS News. Iranian tankers are crossing the U.S. naval blockade line, adding confusion for shipping companies. Mr. Trump had said the blockade would only lift after a memorandum of understanding with Tehran is signed on Friday. Shipping firms say clarity and security guarantees are needed before normal operations can resume.
Vice President JD Vance appeared Wednesday on CBS Mornings to address questions about the deal's timeline. He said the text would be released Friday "at the latest," and that the White House is pushing to release it sooner. Qatari and Pakistani negotiators, who helped mediate the agreement, had made the request for more time. "We're actually trying to push them to get it out today, because we want to tell the American people what's in this deal," Vance said. He called it "a good deal for the American people" and said he had seen it being misrepresented.
Lebanon's president added another layer of complexity Wednesday. President Joseph Aoun said his country's negotiations with Israel are separate from the U.S.-Iran agreement. "The assurances we have received, and what we insist on, is that Lebanon's path in the negotiations is independent, though we are certainly for a ceasefire and for any country that helps us, including Iran," Aoun said, according to a statement from his office. He added: "The Lebanese state is sovereign in its decision-making, and for the first time, it is the one conducting the negotiations, and nobody is negotiating for us." Aoun made the remarks ahead of a fifth round of Israeli-Lebanese talks scheduled for next week.
Iran has said that if Israel keeps troops in Lebanon and continues attacks there, it would consider that a violation of the agreement with Washington. Israel has continued carrying out limited strikes in Lebanon since Trump announced the deal.
Pope Leo XIV offered a markedly different tone. The pope, the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church, praised the agreement in a social media post. "I welcome with satisfaction the reaching of an agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America," he wrote. "I hope that the agreement may help strengthen mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East, promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples," he said.
China also stepped into the regional situation Wednesday. Beijing announced it will send humanitarian aid to both Lebanon and Iran and said it intends to play an active role in fostering regional peace, according to Al Jazeera. China's foreign ministry spokesman described Beijing as "deeply saddened" by the humanitarian disaster.
The memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran is expected to be signed Friday.
