President Donald Trump is maintaining his decision to avoid offensive U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, despite increasing pressure from the Israeli government to authorize a strike on a well-protected underground nuclear site in Iran.
Axios reported Saturday that Israel is actively pushing for U.S. military action against the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which is embedded deep within a mountain. Israel does not possess the necessary bunker-busting munitions or long-range bombers required to destroy the facility, which it considers vital to dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“The entire operation… really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordow,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told Fox News on Friday.
A source from the Trump Administration confirmed to Axios that Israel is lobbying for U.S. involvement but emphasized that President Trump is not currently considering such action. The president appeared to respond to Israel’s appeal late Saturday night in a post on Truth Social, maintaining his administration’s current position.
“The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight,” Trump wrote, reiterating an earlier statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stressed that Israel carried out unilateral action against Iran. The secretary also stressed that the U.S. will respond only if directly attacked by Iran or its proxies, which Trump’s post also reiterated.
“If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” he said. “However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!”
The president elaborated further on his stance in another post on Sunday morning, urging both nations to pursue diplomacy. “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!” the president wrote.
He cited diplomatic successes from his previous term, including progress in disputes between Serbia and Kosovo, and Egypt and Ethiopia.
“There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way! Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!” Trump went on to say. “Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
His comments followed a new wave of Israeli strikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and infrastructure targets. In response, Iran launched its fifth barrage of ballistic missiles and drones. Saturday’s exchange marked the deadliest episode for Israel since hostilities flared on Friday, as multiple civilians were killed by Iranian missile impacts on residential buildings.
Emergency crews are still searching for at least 33 missing individuals at the scene of a partially collapsed apartment complex in central Israel.
According to CNN, the Israeli Defense Forces have indicated that their military campaign against Iran is expected to extend for “weeks, not days.” A source familiar with closed-door discussions told the outlet that the Trump Administration has “not critiqued” Israel’s approach and is comfortable with the current timetable.
