Trump, touting himself as a 'peacemaker', wholeheartedly supported Israel's aggressive stance towards Iran.
Trump's Warning to Iran, Unearthed
WASHINGTON D.C. - A verbal warning issued by former President Donald Trump before his term ended has turned out to be an ominous indication of the current Middle East crisis unfolding.
"We'll never allow America and its allies to be threatened with terrorism or nuclear attacks," Trump told a crowd at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia on May 13, delivering a message to the Iranian regime's leadership with a chilling prophecy.
Behind the scenes, the president was well aware that an attack on Iran might be imminent and there wasn't much he could do to prevent it, according to two US officials.
Pentagon plans were already in the works by mid-May to provide military aid to Israel in case it decided to strike Iran's nuclear program, these sources said. Furthermore, thousands of defensive weapons were diverted from war-torn Ukraine towards the Middle East in preparation for potential conflict.
Yet, the Pentagon declined to comment on the matter.
This account of the events leading to Trump's possible support for Israel's bombing campaign is based on interviews with over a dozen administration officials, foreign diplomats, and Trump confidantes. The picture that emerges is one of secret preparations and a president torn between diplomacy and supporting military action, ultimately convinced by trusted allies and Israel's increasingly aggressive posture.
Israel, known for its long-held ambition to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, has not confirmed if it received the green light from Trump. However, by the days leading up to the strike, Trump was not a "no," according to two senior US officials and a senior Israeli source, enough to tip Israel into action.
Today, seven days into the Israel-Iran conflict, Trump is faced with a difficult dilemma. He can pursue diplomacy with Iran, let the conflict between Israel and Iran play out, or enter the war himself with U.S. airstrikes on Iran's deeply buried Fordow enrichment plant, an action with unknown consequences for the region.
Aaron David Miller, a veteran diplomat who has advised six secretaries of state on Middle East policy, summed it up best: "He got on the tiger and he's riding it."
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the Iranian delegation to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, a position that Washington rejects.
The Foreshadowing
Early hints of Trump potentially agreeing to Israel's bombing campaign appeared in April during a closed-door meeting. Saudi Arabia's defense minister delivered a straightforward message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian: Take Trump's diplomatic offer to reach a peace agreement seriously to avoid the risk of war with Israel.
However, it is unclear whether this message was sent at Washington's behest, or if Iran's leaders took it seriously. The Israel Defense Forces and the head of U.S. Central Command, General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, were reportedly discussing detailed intelligence about Iran's missile buildup and nuclear program, and possible defensive measures in the event of a conflict with Iran.
As Israel and its U.S. allies were preparing for a potential conflict, there were signs of friction in Ukraine as U.S. weapons destined for Ukraine were diverted to Israel instead. This move caused unease in Kyiv, sparking fears that additional weapons needed to defend against Russia would instead be used to defend U.S. interests elsewhere.
In the opening months of Trump's term, Israel had proposed attacking Iran's facilities to Washington, but Trump had dismissed the idea, favoring diplomacy. However, several people close to Trump indicated that he was never completely opposed to using military force against Iran. He had already demonstrated this in 2020 when he ordered a drone strike that killed Major General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' division responsible for its international operations. Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated following the drone strike, with Tehran allegedly attempting to assassinate Trump in retaliation.
So, as the Israel-Iran conflict rages on, Trump faces an uncertain future, caught between his desire for peace and the demands for action from his allies. Ultimately, the outcome remains unclear as Trump weighs his options, leaving the region and the world on edge.
- The unearthed warning from former President Trump to Iran, delivered during his investment forum in Saudi Arabia, seems to foreshadow the current Middle East crisis as it eerily resembles a chilling prophecy about potential war-and-conflicts in the region.
- As politics and general news continue to unfold, Trump's compromising position between diplomacy and military action in the Israel-Iran conflict can be seen as a reflection of his complex relationship with various allies, raising questions about the future of the ongoing situation and its impact on global affairs.
