(Web Desk) - Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressed optimism about the future of the Middle East after meeting US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.
According to reports, Sheikh Tamim praised Trump's leadership during a critical period for the region and said the recently announced agreement with Iran could pave the way for broader stability and cooperation.
“I want to thank you for your leadership at this very critical time in the Middle East,” the Qatari leader said, adding that while significant work remains, continued momentum could help achieve “great things in the region.”
The two leaders discussed regional security, investment opportunities and the evolving situation in the Middle East during their meeting.
“We are very, very impressed with Qatar and the way they handled things,” said the US president.
“Working with Qatar and the people of Qatar was really a pleasure. They were tough, they were strong. You know they are the closest to Iran physically,” he added, praising the country’s “great bravery”.
Trump, meanwhile, rejected reports suggesting the United States would provide financial investment to Iran, calling such claims “ridiculous” and insisting Washington had “no obligation” to invest money in the country.
'No nuclear weapon'
The US president described the agreement reached with Iran as a ‘fair’ and ‘good’ deal, expressing confidence that it would succeed.
President Trump said the Iran deal specifiead that Tehran would not possess a nuclear weapon.
“The only thing that really matters to me is Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and it says it loud and clear,” he said.
“All hell will rain down” on Iran if the Islamic Republic intends to acquire a nuclear weapon, Trump added.
‘Too many people being killed’ in Lebanon: Trump
Trump appeared to criticise Israeli military action in Lebanon, saying it has been fighting Hezbollah “too long and too many people are being killed”.
“You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody because there’s a lot of people in those apartment houses – and they’re not all Hezbollah,” the US president said.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because to be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it,” Trump added.
Trump says without the US, “there’d be no Israel.”
He added: “Without me there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did.”
The US president said he’s had a “great relationship” with Netanyahu but added that the Israeli prime minister “has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon”.
He said he “didn’t like” Israel’s attack on Beirut “two hours” before the signing of the agreement with Iran.
“I let them know that. I didn’t like that, not at all.”
Speaking at the summit, Trump also said negotiations on the planned second phase of the agreement were expected to be easier, signaling optimism about future diplomatic progress.
The meeting underscored ongoing efforts by regional and global leaders to build on the recent agreement and promote stability across the Middle East.
US and Iran sign ceasefire agreement, details remain unclear
US President Donald Trump said on Monday a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the US and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
The agreement would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.
Negotiators would address difficult issues like the future of Iran's nuclear program during the next phase.
"The deal's all signed," Trump said after he arrived in France for a summit of the G7 group of big economies. He said Vice President JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday.
Also read: Iran's top negotiator Ghalibaf to attend signing of interim deal with US
Oil prices fell to their lowest level since March 10, shortly after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, cut off one-fifth of the world's oil trade.
The deal is the most significant step yet to resolve the conflict, which has killed at least 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and upended global energy markets.
But much about the agreement remains unknown, and whether its provisions differ from the April ceasefire was unclear.