Trump opposes Israeli strike on Beirut, says U.S. nearing Iran war deal

Donald Trump criticized an Israeli military strike on Beirut that took place Sunday, saying the attack should not have happened.

Despite his opposition to the strike, Trump said the United States remained on course to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran. "We are very close to a deal," Trump said.

The former president did not elaborate on the timeline for the proposed agreement or specify which parties would be involved in the negotiations. He also did not detail his concerns about how the Israeli strike might affect ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Trump's statement marked a rare instance of public criticism directed at Israel from the Republican, who has maintained close ties to the Israeli government during his political career.

The status of U.S.-Iran relations remains tense. Iran and the U.S. have been at odds over Iran's nuclear program and regional activities for decades. Efforts to negotiate a settlement have proceeded intermittently through multiple administrations.