Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Israel and Iran to pursue a diplomatic resolution to their intensifying conflict, even as he acknowledged the possibility of further military escalation.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said, “I think it’s time for a deal,” referring to the recent exchange of missile strikes between the two longtime adversaries.
“Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens,” he added, suggesting that open conflict might precede a peace agreement.
The remarks come as tensions between Israel and Iran reach a historic high, with both nations engaging in direct military confrontation. The violence began on Friday when Israel launched a series of strikes targeting top Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, military installations, and residential areas. Iran responded with its own wave of missile attacks, raising fears of a prolonged and destabilizing war in the Middle East.
This marks a significant escalation in a decades-long shadow conflict traditionally fought through proxies and covert operations. For the first time, Israel and Iran are exchanging direct and large-scale military firepower.
When asked whether he had urged Israel to pause its offensive, Trump declined to respond. However, a senior U.S. official told AFP that Trump had previously vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a move that could have drastically worsened the conflict.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump remained optimistic, writing, “They should make a deal, and will make a deal.” He added that “many calls and meetings” were ongoing behind the scenes and expressed confidence that peace could be reached “soon.”
While global leaders watch anxiously, the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough remains uncertain as both nations brace for the possibility of deeper confrontation.
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