Le président américain Donald Trump said Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement reached this week with Iran remained provisional and that the United States could resume military operations if negotiations did not produce a satisfactory result.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, Trump stressed that the current agreement was only a memorandum of understanding intended to pave the way for more in-depth discussions.
"It's a memorandum of understanding. And if it doesn't suit me, we'll start shooting at them again, dropping bombs on them," he told reporters.
The interim agreement reached between Washington and Tehran provides for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire established in April. It is intended to allow for the opening of negotiations aimed at a permanent settlement of the conflict that has shaken the Middle East in recent months.
The G7 leaders welcomed this diplomatic breakthrough while calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. In a joint statement, they also stressed the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to reduce regional tensions.
Meeting in France, the heads of state and government of the major Western economies also discussed global energy security. They emphasized their desire to diversify supply routes in order to reduce their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil trade.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz could reopen as early as Friday, while the US blockade of Iranian ports would be gradually lifted. This prospect contributed to a decline in oil prices on international markets, as investors anticipated an increase in global supply.
The memorandum is to be officially signed on Friday at a ceremony held in Switzerland, near the venue of the G7 summit.
The conflict between the United States, its allies and Iran has resulted in more than 7,000 deaths according to estimates cited at the summit, with the majority of victims in Iran and Lebanon.
Despite the optimism displayed by several Western leaders, Trump's statements show that the future of the agreement will largely depend on the progress of future negotiations and the respect for commitments made by the various parties.
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