US President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 18, 2026, praised Israel as a “great ally of the United States of America,” calling the country “courageous, bold, loyal, and smart” in a post on his Truth Social account as regional tensions around the Middle East conflict intensified. The remarks came amid renewed disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing diplomatic talks between Tehran and Washington.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said that “whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America,” adding that Israel “fights hard, and knows how to WIN!” The comments followed a separate message the previous day in which he told Israel it was “prohibited” from bombing Lebanon and said “enough is enough,” reflecting U.S. concern about further escalation.
The praise for Israel was issued as Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran’s decision was reported on Saturday by AFP and relayed by Iranian officials as negotiations with Washington continued. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, said in a televised address that there had been “progress” in talks but that “major differences still exist,” adding, “We are still far from the final discussion.” He framed the negotiations as aimed at ending what he described as a war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran.
A two-week ceasefire tied to earlier diplomatic steps is set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, unless renewed, a timeline that has driven recent shifts in military and diplomatic postures. On Friday, April 17, Iran briefly said the Strait of Hormuz — which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas — was open after a ceasefire understanding, a development that briefly eased oil markets. After Trump insisted the blockade of Iranian ports would remain until a broader agreement is reached, Tehran announced the strait’s closure again.
The confrontation, which the report says began on February 28 with a wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has since spread across the region: Iran has targeted Gulf countries and Lebanon’s Hezbollah has fired rockets into Israel, drawing Lebanon deeper into the fighting. The renewed maritime closures and uncertain ceasefire raise immediate risks for global energy markets and broader regional stability.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/president-donald-trumps-bold-loyal-praise-for-israel-amid-ceasefire-with-lebanon-middle-east-conflict-us-iran-israel-war-11377934#publisher=newsstand
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-19 08:12:00
