Trump Warns of Fraudulent Iran Negotiators as Israel Strikes Hezbollah Despite US-Iran Ceasefire

US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised individuals circulating unauthorised agreements and letters related to the US-Iran negotiations, describing them as fraudsters and charlatans who will be exposed after a federal investigation.

The statement was made as the Israeli Air Force conducted its largest wave of airstrikes yet against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, only hours after a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was announced.

In a post on his Truth Social account, President Trump wrote: “Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE. They will be rapidly exposed after our Federal Investigation is completed. There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations.”

Trump emphasised that the ceasefire is based on a specific set of reasonable points agreed upon by the United States. He criticised media outlets for amplifying sources without authority, referring to recent reports as reminiscent of “Fake News.”

The ceasefire announcement, which includes a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for coordinated shipping, was mediated in part by Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would halt defensive operations if attacks against it cease, and would allow safe passage through the strait for two weeks under coordination with its armed forces.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force carried out extensive strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, the eastern Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces said around 50 fighter jets dropped some 160 bombs on more than 100 targets. President Trump has also said Lebanon is not included in the current ceasefire arrangement.

Lebanese authorities report dozens killed in Beirut, with additional fatalities in Sidon and Tyre. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah had suffered in recent times. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that Israel would continue striking Hezbollah without pause until the security of northern Israeli residents is assured.

Israeli officials made clear that operations against Hezbollah remain independent of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. At a Pentagon briefing, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the administration’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme. He said Iran must surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium “voluntarily,” adding that the United States reserves the right to take it by force if necessary.

Hegseth described full removal and verification of the material as “non-negotiable.” The ceasefire has led to some easing of immediate tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to a drop in oil prices.

However, the continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the firm US stance on Iran’s nuclear stockpile highlight the fragility of the pause and the difficulty of separating the various conflict arenas in the Middle East.

Hezbollah urged civilians not to return to southern Lebanon or Beirut’s southern suburbs before an official ceasefire for Lebanon is declared. The group claimed it is on the cusp of victory and has stopped attacking Israeli targets, while giving mediators time to secure a broader truce.

The two-week window is intended as a confidence-building measure to allow technical coordination and advance negotiations toward a longer-term agreement covering Iran’s nuclear ambitions, regional proxies and security guarantees.

Meanwhile,Israeli officials have insisted that the campaign against Hezbollah will persist until its military capabilities are sufficiently degraded. As diplomatic talks, potentially hosted in Pakistan, advance during the two-week period, the world will watch closely to see whether the current pause can evolve into a more durable framework or whether unresolved core issues will lead to renewed escalation.