President Trump spent much of Wednesday defending a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran that is intended to end months of military conflict between the two countries, while simultaneously warning that the agreement could quickly collapse if Tehran fails to meet U.S. expectations.
Speaking during a lengthy press conference at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump argued that the agreement represents a major diplomatic breakthrough that has received broad international support. Yet his comments also underscored the fragile nature of the arrangement, which is designed to open a new phase of negotiations rather than establish a permanent peace settlement.
The MOU was formally signed Wednesday while Trump was visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at Versailles. Senior administration officials had shared details of the agreement with reporters earlier in the day, and multiple reports indicated that Trump personally signed the document during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. According to Iranian officials, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also signed the agreement.
The deal establishes a 60-day framework for negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear program, the issue that triggered U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran earlier this year. It also seeks to stabilize energy markets and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Trump’s remarks throughout the day highlighted five major themes: the provisional nature of the agreement, international support for ending the war, disagreements over Iran’s missile capabilities, tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and concerns about global energy supplies.
Trump Emphasizes the Agreement Is Not Final
While administration officials presented the MOU as a pathway toward ending the conflict, Trump repeatedly stressed that the agreement should not be viewed as permanent.
“If they don’t honor the agreement, or some things aren’t even mentioned in the agreement, it’s a memorandum of understanding, but we have an understanding of certain things without writing it,” Trump told reporters.
He paired that warning with a direct threat of renewed military action should negotiations break down.
“If they don’t honor that, we’ll probably go back to bombing them until they honor it,” he continued, adding, “it’s amazing what bombs can do.”
The president made similar comments earlier in the day, warning that Iran could face additional military strikes “if they don’t behave.”
At another point during the press conference, Trump reiterated that the arrangement remains preliminary.
“No, it’s not final. It’s a memorandum of understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head,” he said.
Those remarks illustrated the balancing act facing the administration. On one hand, officials are presenting the MOU as a significant diplomatic achievement capable of reducing tensions in the Middle East. On the other, Trump made clear that military pressure remains a central component of his strategy toward Tehran.
The administration has indicated that a more formal signing ceremony could occur later this week.
G7 Leaders Welcome an End to the Conflict
Trump also used the summit to highlight support from fellow G7 leaders, many of whom have been grappling with the economic consequences of the conflict.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global energy markets and contributed to higher oil prices, particularly affecting major energy-importing economies in Europe and Asia. Reopening the shipping lane has emerged as one of the most immediate benefits of the agreement.
According to Trump, leaders at the summit broadly endorsed the diplomatic breakthrough.
“They all put out statements saying they love this deal because they want to see it,” Trump said, “and they love the fact that the Hormuz — don’t forget if we were going to drop bombs … could be another three months … what do you have left, maybe nothing? But the strait would never be opened.”
Trump also dismissed concerns raised by some critics regarding the legality of U.S. military operations against Iran.
When asked whether any G7 leaders expressed concern that American strikes may have violated international law, Trump rejected the premise.
“No, no, actually the opposite. They felt they [Iran] were very dangerous,” Trump responded.
“They were very relieved because they could get hit too. No, we never discussed that. No, it would be the opposite.”
The comments come despite earlier criticism from officials in several European countries, including Germany, Italy and France, who had questioned the legal basis for the military campaign when hostilities first erupted.
Trump Defends Allowing Iran to Keep Missiles
One of the more notable elements of Trump’s remarks involved Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, a longstanding source of concern for Israel and other regional rivals.
Rather than advocating for complete dismantlement of Iran’s missile capabilities, Trump argued that such a demand would be unrealistic given the security dynamics of the Middle East.
“I mean, they have to have some, because other people have some. You got to have some,” Trump told reporters.
The president also pushed back against advisers who reportedly favored a total ban on Iranian missiles.
“I like some of these guys, but I … don’t think they’re smart. ‘Sir, you shouldn’t let them have any missile,’” Trump said.
“I said, ‘well, what am I going to do? Am I going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles, but they can’t have them?’ ‘Yes, sir.’”
“Doesn’t work that way, you know, it doesn’t work that way, and missiles aren’t the problem,” Trump continued, adding that missiles “hurt a little location, but they don’t blow up the planet.”
The issue remains particularly sensitive because Iran has identified its missile program as a red line during negotiations. Iranian forces used missiles extensively during attacks on Israel and U.S. military installations in the Persian Gulf during the conflict.
Trump nevertheless argued that U.S. military operations had already significantly degraded Iran’s missile capabilities.
“We knocked out probably 84-85 percent of their missiles. The rest of them are underground; they can’t even get them out, you know,” he said.
Differences With Netanyahu Remain Visible
Trump’s comments also revealed continuing disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over how aggressively to confront Iranian-backed groups in the region.
The president described a “dispute” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We have a little dispute over Lebanon,” Trump said.
According to Trump, he has urged Netanyahu to exercise greater restraint when responding to Hezbollah provocations that do not result in significant casualties or damage.
“I say you can do a little softer touch, Bibi. You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah,” the president said.
“I’m not saying they shouldn’t protect themselves. I’m saying when two drones are shot into the desert and drop harmlessly, you don’t have to knock down buildings in Beirut.”
The comments were notable because they contrasted with Trump’s generally close relationship with Netanyahu. However, they also reflected concerns that escalating violence involving Hezbollah could jeopardize the broader diplomatic framework established by the MOU.
Lebanon occupies a prominent place in the agreement, with a ceasefire involving Hezbollah reportedly serving as a key Iranian priority during negotiations.
Trump’s criticism was also noticeably more measured than comments he reportedly directed toward Netanyahu earlier in the week after retaliatory exchanges among Israel, Hezbollah and Iran threatened to derail the agreement.
Energy Security Emerges as a Central Concern
Throughout the press conference, Trump repeatedly framed the agreement as necessary to prevent a global energy crisis.
The president argued that continued fighting and the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have had severe consequences for oil supplies worldwide.
“We run out of reserves at about four weeks,” Trump said. “You know, there are reserves all over the world, and we would really run out, and there’ll be a time when you wouldn’t be able to get it.”
He warned that a prolonged disruption would create widespread economic turmoil.
“It would be bedlam,” Trump said.
The president tied those concerns directly to the importance of reopening the vital shipping route.
“What this does is it allows the ships to go,” he said of the Iran deal. “If we keep bombing, those ships won’t be going.”
While Trump did not specify whether he was referring to U.S. reserves or global inventories, concerns about tightening energy markets have become increasingly prominent. The International Energy Agency has warned of declining oil reserves and projected that demand could outpace supply this year.
Those economic pressures helped create momentum for a diplomatic resolution, even as military and political tensions remain unresolved.
A Deal That Ends a War — For Now
Trump’s appearance at the G7 summit highlighted both the promise and uncertainty surrounding the Iran agreement. The memorandum has achieved its immediate objective of halting active hostilities and reopening a crucial global trade route. It has also created a framework for renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Yet the president’s repeated warnings made clear that he does not view the agreement as a permanent settlement. Instead, the MOU represents a temporary understanding backed by the threat of renewed force if either side fails to comply.
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