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Rabat – On Thursday, US President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel to avoid military action against Iran, asking to allow diplomacy a chance.
Yet, only hours later, Israeli Occupation Forces launched strikes against Iranian targets, including nuclear sites. The attacks delivered a setback to Trump’s effort to present himself as a peacemaker in a region fraught with senseless violence.
The first official comment came not from Trump himself but from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He gave a cautious statement that Israel had informed the US that the strikes were “necessary for its defense.”
He made it clear that Washington did not participate in the operation and stressed that the US’s priority is to protect American personnel in the region.
Later in the day, Fox News reported that Trump had known about Israel’s planned strikes in advance. He said he continued to hope that diplomatic talks with Iran could still resume.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see,” Trump told Bret Baier from Fox News.
He also noted that the US stands ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.
Trump planned to gather his National Security Council the following morning at the White House to assess the situation.
A fragile peace at stake
On Thursday, Trump openly acknowledged that an Israeli strike on Iran could happen, warning of the risk of a large-scale escalation in the Middle East.
When asked about his conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “I don’t want them going in, because I think it would blow it.”
His comment referred to ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, with a new round of talks planned for Sunday in Muscat, Omar.
Trump claimed he was close to reaching a favorable deal with Iran, expecting Tehran to make major concessions.
Israel’s decision to attack Iran despite these diplomatic efforts challenges Trump’s image as a “peacemaker”.
“We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into,” Trump said during his inauguration speech.
The key question is, how will the US respond if Iran strikes back? Israel claimed Iran has already launched 100 drones.
The Middle East is not the only conflict Trump has struggled to resolve.
He promised several times to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Deadlines ranged from one day to two weeks, but no peace has come.
Trump’s relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been fraught; he publicly criticized Zelensky but later shifted focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he claims a close relationship.
On Thursday, Trump said he felt disappointed by both Ukraine and Russia.
