U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran and Israel to “make a deal” amid escalating military strikes between the two nations, but suggested they might first need to “fight it out.”
“I think it’s time for a deal,” Trump told reporters as both countries exchanged a fresh barrage of missile attacks, intensifying a conflict that has raised fears of a wider regional war. “But sometimes they have to fight it out—we’ll see what happens,” he added, speaking from the White House before departing for the G7 summit in Canada.
The ongoing escalation marks a significant shift in the long-standing hostilities between the two adversaries. After years of proxy battles and covert operations, Iran and Israel are now openly trading direct strikes for the first time, sparking concerns that the conflict could spread throughout the Middle East.
The fighting erupted on Friday when Israel launched a series of coordinated attacks, reportedly killing top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, while targeting military installations, nuclear facilities, and residential areas.
When asked if he had urged Israel to halt its airstrikes, Trump declined to respond.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official revealed that Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated his belief that the two nations should and will eventually reach an agreement. He noted that “many calls and meetings” were already underway and expressed hope that peace could be achieved “soon” between the long-time enemies.
