First US direct talks with group: Trump

Washington: President Donald Trump said the US had spoken directly with Hezbollah for the first time and that the group had agreed not to fire on Israel as Washington seeks to stabilise conflicts across West Asia.

“We actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time ever,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

“They agreed yesterday they’re not going to shoot, Israel is not going to shoot. We’re just going to see.”

Trump said Washington was seeking to separate discussions involving Hezbollah from broader negotiations with Iran. “I hear the negotiation itself has gone very well, actually. Very well,” he said.

About the prospects for an agreement, Trump said: “If it happens, and it might not happen, who knows? But if it happens, it could happen over the weekend.”

Trump reiterated that the talks were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

He also said an understanding had been reached that would allow the US to participate in the removal and destruction of nuclear-related material at Iranian facilities.

We will not have a nuclear weapon or bomb. We will not develop one, we will not buy one.

(Washington wants from Tehran).

As of this moment, it’s agreed we will go in (Iran) with them, we will get it (uranium), and we will destroy it. It will be destroyed.

Donald trump US President