Trump says he doesn’t expect war to resume – but threatens swift end if it does

Donald Trump attempted to de-escalate tensions at a NATO summit on Wednesday after spending the previous day issuing threats of fresh military strikes. The US president suggested that a renewed conflict was unlikely, whilst simultaneously warning that any resumption of hostilities would be concluded quickly. His comments appeared aimed at cooling rhetoric that had raised international alarm about potential further military action in the Middle East.

At the NATO gathering, Trump expressed deep scepticism about reaching any diplomatic agreement with Tehran, saying he had come to know the Iranian leadership well but was uncertain he wanted to do business with them. “Maybe we’ll just finish the job,” he stated, in what appeared to be a reference to potential military action. The president has long taken a hardline stance towards Iran since returning to the political arena.

Trump reiterated his position that Iran should not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons, describing the country’s leadership as “crazy” and claiming they had made him the number one assassination target. These comments underscore the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran that has characterised US-Iran relations for decades, particularly since America’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during Trump’s previous presidency.

The president’s mixed messaging—simultaneously suggesting conflict was improbable whilst threatening rapid military victory—reflects the ongoing tensions in the region and the Trump administration’s unpredictable approach to foreign policy in the Middle East.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.