President Donald Trump suggested the US may attack Iran again if Tehran does not agree to a peace deal. In April, the president gave the Islamic Republic 60 days to make an agreement on its nuclear program. When a deal was not reached, Tel Aviv and Washington used the deadline as justification to launch an unprovoked war on Iran.
At dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump told the press that he was “ready, willing, and able” to strike Iran again. “I will tell you that in my view, I hope it’s over. I think Iran wants to meet. I think they want to make peace and I’m all for it. Now, if that’s not the case, we are ready, willing, and able,” the president said. “But I don’t think we’re going to have to be.”
Also on Monday, Axios reported that “Israeli officials think President Trump could green light renewed Israeli attacks” on Iran, and that Tel Aviv was “preparing for the possibility of further military action,” citing two unnamed sources.
“Netanyahu’s top adviser, Ron Dermer, told officials in closed briefings that he came away from a recent visit to Washington with the impression that the Trump administration would back new Israeli strikes on Iran under certain circumstances,” the outlet added.
In March, Trump delivered a letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader giving a two-month deadline to make a deal. At the time, Axios correspondent Barak Ravid reported that the chances of an Israel war with Iran significantly increased at the end of the two-month window.
Talks between the US and the Islamic Republic began in mid-April. After Israel attacked Iran on June 13, Trump said Iran’s 60-day period for diplomacy had expired. “We knew just about everything,” he said. “We knew enough that we gave Iran 60 days to make a deal, and today is 61, right? So, you know, we knew everything.”
It’s unclear what Trump is demanding from Iran. Tehran does not have a nuclear weapons program and is still a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. During the 12-day Israeli war, Trump demanded that the Islamic Republic agree to an unconditional surrender.
Israeli officials have told journalists that the diplomatic process was a ruse to give Tel Aviv and Washington time to prepare for striking Iran.
Tel Aviv has stated that its war with Iran is not over, and the Israeli military is currently focusing its efforts on Gaza.
