Trump Claims He Is Not Seeking a Ceasefire with Iran
President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he isn’t pursuing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, denying reports that he had cut short his participation in the G7 Summit in Canada for this reason. Instead, he suggested his motivations were tied to something “much bigger.”
While on Air Force 1 during a flight back to Washington, he informed reporters that he aims for more than a mere ceasefire, indicating that he would consult with advisors promptly upon arrival.
“We’re looking better than a ceasefire,” he asserted. “I didn’t say I was looking for a ceasefire.” When pressed on what could be better than a ceasefire, Trump replied, “The end. It’s not a ceasefire, it’s the real end. The end.” He even mentioned that “giving up completely” could also be a possibility.
In a related context, the U.S. ambassador to Israel described Operation Beeper as “simple” in comparison to potential actions concerning Iran.
Trump had previously dismissed the notion that he was hurrying back for ceasefire discussions by claiming on his social media platform that it “certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire. It’s much bigger than that.”
He shared a concerning message earlier on Monday, stating, “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” and warned people to avoid Tehran soon. When reporters questioned his evacuation message for Tehran’s residents, he downplayed any immediate threat but suggested it was “safer to evacuate because there’s a lot of bad things going on.”
The stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions was clear. “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, that’s very easy,” Trump reiterated to the press.
In discussing the conflict, he accused Iranian leaders of lacking a desire to negotiate over their nuclear program. He expressed frustration, saying, “They should have traded. I told them, ‘I’ll trade.’ So I don’t know. I don’t feel like negotiating that much.”
When asked whether U.S. military action might comprehensively dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, he expressed hope it would be resolved before reaching that point, asserting, “They won’t have nuclear weapons.”
While negotiations seemed to be taking a toll on his position, Trump mentioned possibly sending Vice President JD Vance and U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkov for talks with Iranian officials. “It depends on what happens when I come back,” he noted, commenting on the Israeli-Iran issue, “No one has been slow before.”
