U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iran and Israel to “make a deal” as tensions between the two countries escalate, but acknowledged they may need to “fight it out” before any agreement is reached.
“I think it’s time for a deal,” Trump said to reporters amid a new wave of missile exchanges between the two nations. “But sometimes they have to fight it out—we’ll see what happens,” he added, speaking from the White House ahead of his departure for the G7 summit in Canada.
The recent military escalation marks a turning point in the decades-long hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both sides engaging in direct strikes for the first time following years of covert operations and proxy warfare. The situation has raised fears of a broader regional conflict.
Hostilities flared up on Friday after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes, reportedly killing high-ranking Iranian military officers and nuclear experts, and hitting military sites, nuclear facilities, and residential zones.
When asked whether he had advised Israel to stop its offensive, Trump declined to comment. However, a senior U.S. official disclosed that Trump had blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump reaffirmed his belief that the two nations would eventually reach an agreement. He mentioned that “many calls and meetings” were already in progress and expressed optimism that peace might come “soon.”
