Trump Says War With Iran Will End Mutually With Netanyahu’s Input
US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that any decision regarding the conclusion of the war with Iran will be a “mutual” one, made in collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump similarly asserted that Israel would likely not exist today were it not for his and Netanyahu’s leadership, claiming Iran was on the verge of destroying Israel before their joint military action.
Trump and Netanyahu’s Shared Decision-Making
During a telephone interview with The Times of Israel, Trump indicated that while he will ultimately make the final decision on ending the conflict, he will consider Netanyahu’s input. “I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,” he said. When asked if Israel might continue the war even after the US decides to halt its strikes, Trump responded, “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary.”
Timeline and Expectations for the War
While Trump has avoided committing to a specific timeline, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Friday that the administration anticipates the war lasting four to six weeks. The conflict began on February 28 with a joint US-Israeli strike that resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Succession in Iran and US Response
The interview followed an announcement by Iran’s state media that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, had been named as the country’s next supreme leader. Trump declined to comment directly on Mojtaba’s election, stating, “We’ll see what happens.” Earlier, Trump told ABC News that any new Iranian leader without White House approval “won’t last long.”
Call for Netanyahu’s Pardon
Trump reiterated his call for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges. He described Herzog as a “disgrace” for not granting the pardon, arguing that Netanyahu needs to focus on the war, not legal battles. “Bibi Netanyahu should be given that pardon immediately. I think [Herzog is] doing a terrible thing by not giving it. We aim for Bibi to be focused on the war,” Trump stated.
Trump and Netanyahu’s Relationship
Trump noted the improved relationship with Netanyahu since the 2024 US presidential election, following a period of strain when Netanyahu congratulated Joe Biden on his 2020 victory. Trump previously criticized Netanyahu for this congratulatory call, questioning his commitment to peace with the Palestinians. But, Trump now stated, “We’ve done a great job together, like what we’ve done with Iran.”
Justification for the War and Iran’s Weakening
Trump asserted that the war against Iran was justified by the Islamic Republic’s alleged intent to destroy Israel. “Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it… and now gaze what we have — we have them being destroyed,” he said. He also expressed confidence that the war would lead to the disarmament of Hamas, given Iran’s financial support for the group. “Many people will disarm because of [the war against Iran],” Trump predicted.
Concluding the call, Trump again urged Herzog to issue the pardon for Netanyahu, stating, “Tell this president to offer him the pardon right now.”