Former President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that the United States was not involved in Israel’s overnight airstrikes against Iran, while issuing a stark warning to Tehran and offering peace negotiations as possible solutions.
President Trump Issues Military Warning In an online post shared to Truth Social, Donald Trump asserted, “The United States had nothing to do with tonight’s attack on Iran” to distance Washington from what may become an all-out military confrontation (Wall Street Journal/Journal Post/Economic Times etc).
Reiterating his message, he added that any Iranian aggression against American interests would provoke the full strength and might of US Armed Forces “at levels never seen before”
Wsj.com; M.Economics Times | TBSnews Network (tbsnewsnet);
Diplomatic Overtures Amid Escalation
Even amid his warning of escalated tensions, Trump highlighted diplomacy. He wrote, “But we can easily reach an agreement between Iran and Israel to end this bloody conflict!!!”. For further reading: washingtonpost.com +6 economictimes.com+6 umplut timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
This coincides with his previous calls urging Tehran to reach an agreement on nuclear matters – reports indicate he issued them a 60-day ultimatum, which expired just prior to the strikes [sources: Reuter’s.com, India Times] | Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (TIMEs-indiatimes),].
Trump Reacts to Regional Crisis mes President Trump issued this statement during an increasingly heated confrontation between Israel and Iran in recent times, with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion targeting multiple Iranian nuclear, military, and ballistic missile sites, killing senior commanders according to multiple news sources (NDTV.com/apnews.com/8782029_7-7186718_thetimes.co.uk/8782029_7) (NDTV/APNews.com/8782029 /78006972293/2740788/).
Iran responded with waves of missiles and drone strikes against Israeli cities including Bat Yam and Tamra. Iran inflicted civilian casualties as their missiles struck their targets apnews.com/, JPost/ and other sites (ApNews +3; JPost +3)
U.S. military assets have been active in the region, intercepting Iranian projectiles aimed at Israel. Although government officials maintain that Israel acted independently, Trump’s statements affirming intelligence knowledge and military readiness underscore U.S. influence even while publicly distancing himself from direct involvement.
WP = 10; EnWiki = 17 (NJ:WP is 9). WP=19 = NAP. Talks Cancelled and Diplomacy at Risk.WP = 17;
As a result of these strikes, ongoing nuclear negotiations in Oman were suspended; Iran dismissed them as futile, attributing this action to US interference and denouncing them as futile by calling attention to US involvement within these talks. (sources).
Trump insisted that diplomatic channels remained open and encouraged both countries to seize this chance to end what he termed as their bloody conflict, according to Reuter’s, Jpost and M.economictimes reports (reuters.com / Jpost / M.economictimes respectively).
Trump Reiterates Strong Support for Israel while Cautioning Iran
Donald Trump stated his continued strong U.S. backing for Israel: “We’ve always been very close with them – by far their number one ally,” according to Reuters.
Iran pressed ahead with its plan for retaliatory measures even while key global players – such as the UN, EU and G7- urged de-escalation measures.
As the conflict enters its third day, the region stands at an important crossroads. Trump’s declaration serves dual purposes; to reassure U.S. allies and deter Iran from further escalation; yet with military engagement escalating further than anticipated and diplomacy failing altogether, war could erupt across more of Asia if diplomacy does not succeed; we will soon learn whether his warning of “levels never seen before” acts as an effective deterrent or source of further tensions.
Now, all eyes are focused on whether Iran chooses restraint and diplomacy or escalates military activity further, with nuclear talks–and regional stability–hanging in the balance.