Trump Reluctant to Urge Israel to Stop Strikes on Iran
US President Donald Trump expressed on Friday the challenges involved in convincing Israel to pause its military actions against Iran. Arriving at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump noted that asking Israel to halt its strikes is "very hard right now," citing the position of strength Israel holds in the ongoing conflict.
"If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing," Trump said, emphasizing Israel's current advantage over Iran in this confrontation. The President also revealed that the US remains engaged in communication with Iran, saying, "We're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens."
US President Questions Viability of Pressuring Israel
Trump underlined the difficulty of pressuring Israel to halt its drone and missile strikes, stating, "Israel is doing well in terms of war, and I think you would have to say Iran is doing less well… It's a little hard to get someone to stop."
Dismissal of European Mediation Efforts
Moreover, the President expressed skepticism toward Europe’s attempts to mediate between the two nations. "Iran didn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one," Trump remarked, indicating limited scope for European diplomatic intervention.
Mixed Signals on Ceasefire and US Military Involvement
When questioned about the possibility of supporting a ceasefire amid ongoing negotiations, Trump offered an ambiguous stance, stating, "I might, depending on the circumstances." On the matter of deploying US ground troops, the President refrained from specifics, noting, "Well, I'm not going to talk about ground forces, because the last thing you want to do is ground forces."
Stalemate in Diplomatic Talks as Conflict Escalates
Meanwhile, European ministers held a three-hour meeting with Iran's foreign minister in Geneva, urging Tehran to return to nuclear negotiations. However, the discussions ended without significant progress.
Ninth Day of Hostilities: Rising Casualties and Continuing Airstrikes
As the conflict enters its ninth consecutive day of aerial exchanges, Israel continues to target Iranian nuclear and military sites, while Iran retaliates with missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory.
According to reports from Iranian human rights activists, the death toll in Iran has reached at least 639. Israeli authorities have confirmed 24 civilian deaths due to Iranian strikes.
The White House has yet to finalize any decision on direct US military involvement, keeping the international community on edge.
