Middle East: Trump could restart Iran war if deal not signed

Middle East: Trump could restart Iran war if deal not signed June 17, 2026What you need to know - Trump says he would 'start the process again' in the event of Iran not signing - Lebanon's negotiations with Israel 'independent' of US-Iran deal, says president - Merz says Bundestag could vote of Hormuz mission by summer recess Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Sourse on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Below you can read a roundup of news relating to the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Trump says Iran deal saved world from a "nuclear Holocaust." US President Donald Trump said the agreement with Iran was welcome by world leaders. "Not one leader said: Please sir, keep dropping bombs on them," Trump said at the G7 meeting in France. "Only stupid people say that," he added, while also saying the agreement will prevent Iran from securing nuclear weapons, saying the agreement saved the world from a "nuclear Holocaust." "Technical discussion on the removals of all stockpiles of uranium will begin immediately," Trump said, also mentioning the Gulf states are going to be part of the process. Regarding the issue of Iran's ballistic missiles, the US leader said Tehran "gotta have some" as other countries have them, too. "Missiles are not the problem," Trump said, explaining they cannot "blow up the whole planet." Lebanon, Trump said, is a "small piece of the puzzle," but a "very noisy one," while also saying the Israeli strikes in the country go too far. "When two drones are shot into the desert and harm nobody you don't have to shut down buildings. They could do a much better job for Hezbollah" US would 'start the process again' if Iran doesn't make a deal US President Donald Trump said that the US would "start the process again" in the event of Iran not agreeing to the final agreement. "I would think they would do it," Trump said on the sidelines of the G7 conference in France, when asked about the prospects for a deal. "If they don't, then that's, you know, that's okay. We'll have to start the process again, and we don't lose," Trump said. A signing ceremony of the agreement is expected to take place on Friday in Switzerland If the agreement goes ahead, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's key oil shipping routes, will reopen for traffic again on Friday. The war has effectively shut down the flow of crucial gas and oil supplies for months, causing a spike in global energy prices. Around 20% of the world's crude oil supply is transported through the vital channel. WATCH: Trump rebukes Israel over Lebanon, throws Syria into the mix Donald Trump publicly chastised Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel's continued military action in Lebanon, warning the Israeli PM would need to be "more responsible." US diplomat Barbara A. Leaf gives us her assessment. Lebanon's president says Israel negotiation 'independent' of US-Iran agreement Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said talks with Israel in Washington next week — which seek to bring an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah — were an indpendent process and not linked to the US-Iran deal. "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, in a statement published by his office. Aoun is hopeful that the fifth round of talks "will be more positive, particularly considering the US administration's great interest in Lebanon." "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," he said. "I reassure the Lebanese that nobody is tying us to any other country, and any settlement will be through us, not at our expense," he added. Iranian-backed Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations with Israel along with the the Lebanese governments decision to disarm the militant group. Lebanon was pulled into the war in March when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. Welcome to our coverage Thank you for joining us as we bring you the latest developments from the Middle East region. We're just days away the US-Iran deal being signed in Switzerland and with it the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The details of the memorandum of understanding are not yet known. Germany is watching developments closely and Chancellor Merz has indicated that a vote in the Bundestag could be held before the summer break for a mission in the Strait. Meanwhile, Lebanon's president has stressed that negotiations with Israel to bring about an end to fighting with Hezbollah, are not tied to the US-Iran deal. This blog will bring you all the latest on these topics and other movements in the Middle East.