New Delhi: Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump has injected a note of scepticism regarding the feasibility of a swift ceasefire.
In a recent statement, Trump expressed doubt about the possibility of halting Israel’s military strikes on Iranian targets, suggesting that such a request would be exceptionally challenging at the current moment. “I think it’s very hard to make that request right now,” Trump said.
Despite indicating support for a ceasefire, Trump highlighted the difficulties in persuading Israel to halt its offensive actions while enjoying a perceived military advantage. He pointed out the complexities of brokering peace when one side is winning, suggesting that such situations often require additional incentives and diplomatic manoeuvring.
While expressing openness to mediation efforts, he acknowledged the inherent challenges involved in halting military operations once underway. “Israel’s doing well in terms of war. And, I think, you would say that Iran is doing less well. It’s a little bit hard to get somebody to stop,” Trump said.
“If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing,” Trump said. “But we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” news agency AP quoted him as saying.
These remarks come as the White House indicated a degree of cautious optimism regarding the potential for future negotiations, with the administration requesting additional time to determine whether to take any military steps.
He maintained that the United States possesses the capability to act decisively if deemed necessary, while also revealing ongoing communication with Iranian officials.
Trump’s assertions were accompanied by criticism directed at the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Trump stated that Gabbard was “wrong” in claiming that US intelligence agencies had concluded Iran was not actively pursuing nuclear weapons. Trump rejected this assessment, stating that his own intelligence community had reached a different conclusion
While Trump stated that he would support a ceasefire, he clearly emphasised this would only happen “depending on the circumstances”.
