(Image source from: AP)
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, mentioned that the end of the current fight with Iran will be a “shared" choice made together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by The Times of Israel. In a phone interview with the Times of Israel, Trump said that Iran was just about to wipe out Israel before the recent military actions began. He insisted, “Iran was set to destroy Israel and everything nearby. We’ve teamed up to stop a nation that aimed to destroy Israel. " When asked if only the US could decide to stop the campaign or if Israel’s leaders had a say too, Trump proposed a united front. “I believe it’s a joint decision. We’ve been in discussions. I’ll choose the right moment to decide, but all factors will be considered," he stated, suggesting he would keep the final choice while acknowledging Netanyahu’s thoughts.
Regarding the possibility of Israel carrying on military actions alone if the US decided to stop its attacks, Trump rejected the need for that situation. The Times of Israel reported that the President avoided discussing that hypothetical issue, simply saying: “I don’t think that will be needed. " While the White House indicated that the fighting could continue for four to six weeks, Trump has steered clear of setting a strict timeline. His comments highlight the close cooperation between the two countries after the joint military operation started on February 28, which led to the death of Iran’s chief leader, Ali Khamenei. The interview occurred shortly after Tehran shared that Mojtaba Khamenei, the former leader's son, had been appointed as the new supreme leader. According to The Times of Israel, Trump did not provide further details on this new appointment, only stating: “We’ll see what happens. "
This diplomatic position follows earlier warnings made by Trump to ABC News, where he suggested the new leadership in Iran would not endure for long without support from the White House. Beyond military matters, Trump also entered Israeli politics, renewing his request for a legal break for Netanyahu. He criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog for not granting a pardon to Netanyahu, who is facing charges for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. “Bibi Netanyahu should get that pardon right away. I believe [Herzog is] making a big mistake by not allowing it. We want Bibi to concentrate on the conflict, not on a silly pardon," Trump stated to The Times of Israel. In reply, Herzog’s office asserted that Israel “is a sovereign nation that follows the law," mentioning that the pardon request is being evaluated by the Justice Ministry. Despite previous tensions between them, Trump praised his current collaboration with Netanyahu, saying, “We’ve worked very well together, like we have with Iran".
Supporting his reasoning for the conflict that began eight days ago, Trump asserted that the military action has stopped a major disaster in the area. The Times of Israel quoted him saying, “Iran was set to wipe out Israel and all the nearby nations, and now look at what has happened; we see them facing destruction. " The President went on to attribute Israel's ongoing existence to his and Netanyahu’s guidance, stating that “[if] Bibi wasn’t here, Israel wouldn’t be here today. " He also implied that a weakened Tehran could impact regional groups like Hamas, possibly leading them to disarm. “Many groups will lay down their arms because of [the fight against Iran]," Trump anticipated, mentioning that “Iran is in a situation it has never faced before, and it will only get worse for them. " He repeated his request for Herzog to “tell this president to grant him the pardon immediately".
