As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that while peace is ultimately necessary, the two nations may need to “fight it out” before any agreement is reached.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Sunday before leaving 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,” referencing the ongoing military exchanges between the two adversaries.
The conflict, which erupted on Friday, has intensified with a series of Israeli airstrikes across Iran. The strikes have targeted nuclear sites, military installations, and residential neighborhoods, reportedly killing several high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.
Though Iran and Israel have long engaged in indirect hostilities through proxies and covert operations, this recent outbreak marks one of their most overt and dangerous confrontations yet—sparking fears of a broader regional war in the Middle East.
When asked if the U.S. had advised Israel to pause further attacks, Trump refused to answer. However, a senior U.S. official told AFP that Trump had previously blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed continued hope for a diplomatic resolution.
“They should make a deal, and will make a deal,” he wrote, adding that “many calls and meetings” are ongoing behind the scenes to de-escalate the crisis.
Trump concluded by expressing optimism that peace could be achieved “soon.”
