Trump Hosts Lebanon's President, Warns Iran Over Nuclear Program

President Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House — the first-ever such meeting between a US president and this Lebanese leader. The talks focused on security in the Middle East and easing long-running conflict in the region.

Why this matters: For years, southern Lebanon has been a hotspot. A militant group called Hezbollah (an armed political group backed by Iran) kept fighters and weapons near Israel's border. Israel says this is a threat and has carried out attacks in response. Now, a new US-backed plan is underway to calm things down.

The key points from Trump:

• The US will "help Lebanon a lot" and treat it "with respect."
• The Lebanese Army is starting to take over villages that Hezbollah has left.
• A phased "pilot zone" plan means Israeli troops slowly pull back while Lebanese forces move in.
• Trump said he would even speak to Hezbollah if President Aoun asked.

Tough talk on Iran: Trump had sharp words for Iran, saying:

• Iran "desperately" wants to meet, but he has "no interest" until they are ready.
• The US "will not let Iran have a nuclear weapon."
• The US would "hit any site" tied to Iran's nuclear plans.
• He mentioned striking the Pickaxe Mountain area soon — a heavily fortified site in central Iran believed to be linked to Iran's nuclear program. It sits deep underground (possibly over 100 meters), making it hard to inspect or attack.

On trade: Trump briefly mentioned tariffs (taxes charged on goods coming from another country) on Canada, saying they are not linked to wildfires but that the issue is being looked at.

The bottom line: This meeting signals stronger US support for Lebanon's government and army, while sending a firm warning to Iran. The peace process remains fragile, and there is real doubt over whether Hezbollah can be disarmed without new fighting. Rising Middle East tension is important for markets because it can affect oil prices and overall investor confidence.

This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://investinglive.com/news/trump-meets-with-lebanese-president-joseph-aoun-in-the-white-house/