WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden defended his legacy in the Middle East on Monday, crediting his administration for weakening Iran and making progress on a deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

“My administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play, and we're leaving them and America with more friends and stronger alliances whose adversaries are weaker and under pressure,” Biden said in farewell remarks at the State Department. 

Biden delivered his final foreign policy speech a week before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The outgoing president spoke as US and Arab negotiators appeared on the verge of an agreement to end the Gaza war, which has killed over 46,000 Palestinians and come to define his foreign policy legacy. Israel and Hamas on Monday were reviewing a final proposal that would see 33 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, released over an initial 42-day ceasefire. Israel says there are 98 remaining hostages in Gaza, more than a third of whom are presumed dead. 

“We're on the brink of the proposal that I laid out in detail months ago, finally coming to fruition,” Biden said. “I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up.”