President Donald Trump said on May 28 that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to conduct military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and capabilities so that there could be more time for the United States to reach a nuclear deal with the regime.
“Well, I'd like to be honest, yes, I did. Next question, please. I did,” Trump said when asked about reports that the president told Netanyahu not to take military action against Iran so as not to jeopardize what he said are “very good discussions” between the United States and Iran to ensure that Tehran’s nuclear program will not lead to any nuclear weapon production.
“It’s not a warning. I said, ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate [to conduct strikes on Iran],’” the president said.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate right now, because if we can settle [the nuclear negotiation] with a very strong document, very strong with inspections and no trust. I don’t trust anybody. I don’t trust anybody.”
Trump acknowledged that the military option could come into play as things “could change at any moment” and “could change with a phone call.”
“I think they want to make a deal, and if we can make a deal, save a lot of lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been looking to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Gaza that would result in the release of hostages taken by the Hamas terrorist group during its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when the terrorist group killed almost 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages into Gaza. The ongoing Israeli military campaign came in response to the Hamas attack.
Temporary cease-fires have resulted in the release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian terrorist prisoners. Dozens are still being held hostage, some of whom Israel believes are dead.
When asked if he is frustrated with Netanyahu expanding Israel’s military operation in Gaza, Trump said, “No.”
“We’re dealing with the whole situation in Gaza. We’re getting food to the people of Gaza. It’s been a very nasty situation, very nasty fight,” he said. “Oct. 7 was a very nasty day, the worst that I think I’ve ever seen. It was a horrible day, and people aren’t going to forget that either. So we'll see how that all works out.”
Special Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff said that a new term sheet about achieving a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas will be delivered to the president for review.
“I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary cease-fire, and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict,” Witkoff said.
Trump has said that negotiations with Iran would need to result in the “total dismantlement” of Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Total dismantlement. Yes, that is all I would accept,” he said. “I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon. If they want to be successful, that’s okay. I want them to be so successful.”
“I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed,” he said.
In 2018, Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions lifted under it, in addition to enacting fresh sanctions on Iran.
In his second term, Trump has enacted tough sanctions on the regime in what the administration has called a “maximum pressure” campaign.
Iran is a state supporter of terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. All three groups have attacked Israel before and since Oct. 7, 2023.
Finally, Iran has launched missiles at Israel, including an attack in April 2024. Israel responded by taking out a number of Iranian military capabilities, although it stopped short of attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
