Trump Says Urging Israel to Halt Iran Strikes ‘Very Hard’ Amid Military Advantage
President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that the United States is unlikely to pressure Israel into pausing its airstrikes on Iran, despite growing global calls for de-escalation and stalled diplomatic talks. Speaking to reporters after arriving in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump cited Israel’s military advantage as a key reason why such a request would be difficult to make at this stage.
“I think it’s very hard to make that request right now,” Trump said. “If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing. But we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens.”
Trump reiterated that ongoing backchannel communications with Tehran continue, but downplayed the possibility of an imminent breakthrough. He indicated the U.S. would wait at least two more weeks before reassessing its role and strategy in the escalating conflict.
“It’s very hard to stop when you look at it,” Trump continued, emphasizing the momentum of Israel’s military campaign. “Israel’s doing well in terms of war. And, I think, you would say that Iran is doing less well. It’s a little bit hard to get somebody to stop.”
His comments come amid mounting international concern over the rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The United Nations, along with several European and Middle Eastern nations, has called for a ceasefire and a return to negotiations. So far, those efforts have failed to gain traction.
Trump also dismissed the recent European-led mediation attempts, which took place in Geneva but ended without progress.
“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us,” Trump said. “Europe is not going to be able to help in this one.”
While positioning himself as a potential dealmaker, Trump rejected parallels between the current conflict and America’s 2003 invasion of Iraq—a war he has consistently criticized. “There were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were,” he said, contrasting it with what he described as Iran’s rapidly growing nuclear capabilities.
“It looked like I’m right about the material that they’ve gathered already. It’s a tremendous amount of material,” Trump said, without offering specifics.
The military conflict between the two regional powers has already resulted in significant casualties. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli airstrikes in Iran have killed at least 639 people, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. On the Israeli side, retaliatory missile strikes by Iran have left 24 civilians dead, local Israeli authorities reported.
Despite the intensifying violence, Trump’s comments signal a reluctance to push for a pause, instead favoring a wait-and-see approach as Israel continues its offensive.
“We’ve been in contact with all parties,” Trump said. “We want peace, but we also want to see things resolved in a way that prevents Iran from becoming a bigger problem than it already is.”
As diplomatic channels narrow and the human cost rises, the prospect of de-escalation appears increasingly uncertain, with the U.S. maintaining a cautious, if not supportive, stance on Israel’s continued air campaign.
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