Trump says US held talks with Hezbollah to reduce tensions across Middle East
Washington, June 5
US President Donald Trump has said the United States has been in direct contact with Hezbollah as part of efforts to stabilise Lebanon and reduce tensions across the Middle East, offering a rare public acknowledgement of engagement with the Iran-backed group.
Trump told a reporter at the White House on Thursday that progress had been made in discussions aimed at reducing violence in Lebanon, which he described as closely linked to broader regional developments involving Iran.
The comments came after a reporter noted that Hezbollah had reportedly rejected a US-backed peace proposal in Lebanon and asked about the status of negotiations.
"Yeah, what does reject mean? They didn't reject," Trump replied.
The President then disclosed direct communication between Washington and Hezbollah.
"Look, they're looking. I think Hezbollah -- I will tell you, they called us and they said, how about stopping?" Trump said. "And I think you're going to see things happen over there."
Trump described Lebanon as a country that has suffered from instability and conflict for decades and expressed hope that a political settlement could be achieved.
"It would be really nice if Lebanon could have some peace," he said. "Lebanon's been under attack for so many years and always like an underdog."
The President said he had discussed the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other regional leaders.
"I spoke to Bibi Netanyahu about that," Trump said. "And I actually spoke to Hezbollah about it."
"I think progress has been made," he added.
Trump linked the Lebanon issue to wider efforts involving Iran, suggesting that regional tensions are interconnected.
"That's been, like, a little bit of a different world, but it's interconnected with Iran," he said.
The remarks represent one of the clearest public indications from Trump that his administration has engaged directly with Hezbollah, which Washington designates as a foreign terrorist organisation. Previous US administrations have generally avoided publicly acknowledging direct contacts with the group.
Trump noted the longevity of the conflict in Lebanon and the difficulty of achieving a settlement.
"That's been going on for a long time," he said. "When you look at that, for years and years, 48 years."
"I say, well, let's get this settled. How long has it been going on? 48 years. I said, that's a long time. Not that easy."
Lebanon remains a key arena in the broader confrontation involving Israel, Iran and Tehran-backed armed groups across the region. Hezbollah is one of the most influential political and military actors in Lebanon and has played a central role in conflicts involving Israel over several decades.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting timing - Trump says this while India is also handling multiple regional conflicts. We understand the complexity of talking to groups you disagree with. But Hezbollah is backed by Iran, our friend in many ways, yet also problematic. Let's see if this leads anywhere. I'm skeptical - these talks never seem to work without addressing the root cause of Palestinian rights. 😐
As an American living in Mumbai for work, I find this bizarre. We call them terrorists but negotiate with them? Reminds me of how US talks to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Hypocrisy runs deep in foreign policy. But at least Trump is being honest about it - previous presidents did this secretly. India knows this game well - look at your own backchannel talks with Pakistan.
Lebanon has been suffering for decades. As an Indian, I feel for them - we understand what instability looks like (though our democracy holds strong). If Trump can get Hezbollah to stop fighting and bring peace, maybe it's worth the diplomatic awkwardness. But I worry Israel won't agree - they want Hezbollah crushed, not negotiated with. And India has to balance our Israel ties with our Iran relations. Tough spot. 🕊️
I respect that Trump is trying to settle a 48-year-old conflict. India has its own unresolved issues like Kashmir (76 years now!). But talking to Hezbollah directly? That legitimizes them. We would never openly talk to Lashkar-e-Taiba - or would we? These are double standards. If America can talk to their "terrorists" why can't we talk to ours? Hypocrisy everywhere. 😤
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.