Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jun 21: As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues to escalate, US President Donald Trump has cast doubts over the possibility of a ceasefire, stating it would be "very hard to stop" Israel's ongoing military strikes.
Speaking on Saturday, Trump acknowledged that while he supports the idea of a ceasefire, Israel's aggressive campaign has created a situation where halting the offensive seems unlikely. “It’s a little bit hard to get somebody to stop when they’re winning,” he remarked, pointing out that Israel appears to be ahead in the conflict, while Iran is "doing less well."
Trump's comments came in response to Iran’s suggestion that the US could call on Israel to pause its attacks to further ceasefire talks. “I think it's very hard to make that request right now,” Trump said.
The White House had earlier hinted at a “substantial chance of negotiations,” stating that the US was still weighing whether to directly involve its military. Trump confirmed the US has been in communication with Iran but added, “We’ll see what happens.”
In a related development, Trump dismissed an earlier statement made by his intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, who had suggested in March that US intelligence believed Iran was not working on a nuclear weapon. “She’s wrong,” Trump declared, adding, “Then my intelligence community is wrong. Who said that?”
Trump is reportedly still deciding whether to authorise a US strike on Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried deep beneath a mountain. The facility is believed to be key to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, though Tehran claims it is for civilian energy use.
Israel launched what it called "preemptive" strikes on Iran on June 13, aimed at stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump stated that while he is open to a ceasefire, “it depends on the circumstances” — especially as Washington weighs its next move.
The situation remains tense as the international community watches closely for any shift in the US role in the escalating conflict.