President Trump just dropped a diplomatic curveball that could either be a genius or a geopolitical gamble.
According to Axios, Trump believes Israel’s recent massive strike on Iran might actually pave the way for a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal. The timing couldn’t be more eyebrow-raising, as he shared this view right before heading into a high-stakes Situation Room meeting in Iran.
Let’s rewind to set the stage: Israel has unleashed a barrage of attacks, taking out much of Iran’s military leadership, targeting top nuclear scientists, and hammering nuclear facilities and missile sites. This isn’t a small skirmish—it’s a full-on assault aimed at crippling Iran’s capabilities. And yet, Trump sees a silver lining for diplomacy in this chaos.
Iran, unsurprisingly, isn’t thrilled, pointing fingers at both Israel and the U.S. for the devastation. Tehran’s officials have made it crystal clear they hold Washington partly responsible, and now the U.S. is bracing for potential retaliation against American targets. It’s a diplomatic tightrope with live wires on both ends.
Meanwhile, the White House had envoy Steve Witkoff lined up to meet Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for a sixth round of nuclear talks. But guess what? Iran’s giving a hard pass on that meeting, leaving negotiations in limbo.
Trump, ever the dealmaker, isn’t fazed by this rejection or Israel’s aggressive moves. He told Axios, “I don’t think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously.” Well, that’s one way to spin a military strike into a bargaining chip—bold, if nothing else.
Speaking of boldness, Trump reminded everyone of his self-imposed timeline, saying, “I gave Iran 60 days, today is day 61. They should have made a deal.” It’s classic Trump—setting a clock and expecting the world to fall in line, though one wonders if Tehran got the memo.
He doubled down, arguing that Israel’s strikes have weakened Iran so much that they might now have more incentive to negotiate. “I couldn’t get them to a deal in 60 days. They were close, they should have done it. Maybe now it will happen,” he mused. Optimism or wishful thinking? Time will tell.
Trump also noted it was “a big day yesterday,” casually mentioning Israel’s use of “great American equipment” in the attack. It’s a subtle pat on the back for U.S. military tech, but it also ties American hardware to a strike that’s got the Middle East on edge. Not exactly a low-profile endorsement.
On the political front, Trump had a chat with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu right after the attack—their first since the operation. Details? Mum’s the word from Trump, who dodged questions about whether Netanyahu sought direct U.S. involvement.
Netanyahu, however, wasn’t shy about coordination efforts, revealing multiple calls and meetings with Trump’s team to secure at least tacit U.S. approval before the strike. He emphasized to the press, “I told the president that surprise is the essence of success.” A masterclass in strategic ambiguity, or just covering all bases?
Interestingly, Israeli officials are now claiming Trump was fully onboard with the strike, suggesting his public opposition was just a “smokescreen” to boost the operation’s success. A senior White House official pushed back hard on that narrative, insisting Trump genuinely opposed the attack while nuclear talks were still viable. Sounds like a classic case of mixed signals—or strategic posturing.
Hours before the strike, Trump had warned Israel not to jeopardize the chances of a nuclear deal. The White House official reiterated to Axios that this concern was communicated “publicly and privately” to the Israelis. Yet, the attack happened anyway—raising questions about how much sway the U.S. really has over its ally.
For now, the U.S. isn’t planning to join Israel’s operation or launch its own strikes on Iran, per the White House. But Israel’s got its eyes on a tough target—an underground nuclear facility in Fordow, buried in a mountain. Without the massive bunker-busting bombs needed to destroy it, Israeli officials are reportedly hoping for U.S. assistance on that front.
What’s next? The road to a nuclear deal looks bumpier than a backcountry trail, especially with Iran fuming and talks stalled. Trump’s gamble that Israel’s strike could force Tehran to the table might be a long shot, but in a region this volatile, stranger things have happened—and conservatives can only hope his instincts for hard-nosed negotiation pay off without dragging the U.S. into another conflict.
