Adedokun Waliyu 
US President Donald Trump said he would support Iran suspending its nuclear weapons program for 20 years, provided the country’s commitment is genuine.
Trump made the remarks after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which both leaders reportedly agreed that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened.
However, Trump’s comments gave little indication that China — the largest buyer of Iranian oil — would pressure Iran to help end the war in the Middle East, which has now entered its 76th day.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving China, Trump said the United States might need to carry out “a little clean-up work in Iran,” without giving further details.
“We’ve wiped out their armed forces essentially. We may have to do a little clean-up work because we had a little month-long ceasefire,” Trump said.
He added that the US mainly agreed to the ceasefire at the request of other countries, especially Pakistan.
“I wouldn’t have really been in favour of it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan,” he said.
Attack In Lebanon
Reports from Lebanon said Israeli strikes killed at least six people.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israel carried out a “double-tap” strike on a car in Nabetieh, killing two men who were delivering food aid.
The attack also reportedly damaged three ambulances and destroyed one, although the ambulance crews were unharmed.
Another Israeli airstrike overnight reportedly hit a house in Harouf, killing at least four people.
Iran And China
Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and repeated that both he and Xi agreed Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to settle,” Trump said after meeting Xi in Beijing.
China has not publicly commented on Trump’s statements about Iran, but its foreign ministry criticised the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” the ministry said.
Iran had effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping traffic following US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28, leading to major disruptions in global energy supplies.
