Amid the rising conflict between Iran and Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump has said that while both nations should pursue a peace deal, they may need to “fight it out” first before reaching an agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Sunday before departing for the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said, “I think it’s time for a deal.”
However, he added, “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens,” as military exchanges between the two countries continue to escalate.
The growing conflict, which began on Friday, has seen Israel launch a series of deadly airstrikes across Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military bases, and residential areas.
The strikes have reportedly killed several top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.
For decades, Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war, often engaging through proxies and covert operations.
However, this latest outbreak of violence represents one of the most direct confrontations between the two nations, raising concerns of a wider conflict spreading across the Middle East.
When asked whether the U.S. had requested Israel to hold off on further airstrikes, Trump declined to answer.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official revealed to AFP that Trump had previously blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump further expressed optimism that negotiations could still succeed.
“They should make a deal, and will make a deal,” he wrote, adding that “many calls and meetings” were currently underway to resolve the crisis.
He expressed hope that peace between the two adversaries could be achieved “soon.”
