Trump says 'nice' to solve Iran nuclear crisis without Israeli strikes
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Some in "Israel" expected the US under Trump to support Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as he had criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for publicly advising against such actions.
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US President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, on January 21, 2025, in Washington, DC. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump stated that the Iranian nuclear crisis could be resolved without "Israel" needing to take military action against Iran. This came as reports surfaced that Trump plans to appoint his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, as the lead negotiator for handling Iran's nuclear program diplomatically.
When asked about supporting Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump initially declined to answer but later said, "Hopefully that can be worked out without having to worry about it. It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step."
Trump added that "Iran will hopefully make a deal, and if they don’t make a deal, that’s okay too." His administration has signaled a preference for diplomacy over military strikes to address Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Some in "Israel" expected the US under Trump to support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, as he had criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for publicly advising against such actions.
Trump also mentioned his alleged role in finalizing the Gaza ceasefire deal, crediting Witkoff for making the agreement possible, saying, "That deal would have never been made without Steve" and emphasizing, "The deal should hold, but if it doesn’t, there will be a lot of problems."
Trump eyes diplomatic approach to Iran, shifts focus on key envoy
The US president was asked whether he would want Steve Witkoff to directly negotiate with Iran, given reports of his appointment to handle US diplomacy with Tehran. Trump responded, "No, but he’s certainly somebody I would use."
Witkoff, noted for his role in securing the Gaza ceasefire deal, is expected to manage efforts to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, his main focus remains the ceasefire agreement.
News of his appointment coincided with Trump revoking the security details of two prominent Iran hawks from his previous administration—Mike Pompeo and Brian Hook—both seen by the administration as targets of Iran. These officials were central to Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign following the US withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has signaled interest in keeping diplomacy on the table. In contrast, some Trump officials have noted that Witkoff will assess whether negotiations with Iran are viable. However, there’s some discontent among Republican staffers, who argue that Witkoff is not sufficiently hawkish, with one aide saying, "He’s already lifting pressure on Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and in the process abandoning American hostages and endangering Israel."
Trump's second-term approach to Iran remains fluid. While certain appointments, like Michael DiMino at the Pentagon, suggest a more cautious stance on military action, figures like Michael Waltz and Marco Rubio advocate a more robust policy.
In another significant move, Trump also revoked the security details of former officials John Bolton, Pompeo, and Hook, who were blamed for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. Despite security concerns, Trump's move has drawn criticism, with one Biden administration official describing it as "highly irresponsible".
