President Donald Trump said Friday he might support a cease-fire in the week-old aerial conflict between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran, depending on the circumstances. Asked by reporters whether he would back a cease-fire while diplomatic negotiations are underway, Trump responded: “I might, depending on the circumstances.” He added: “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one.”
On Friday, Iran’s foreign minister met with European counterparts in Geneva to explore a path back to diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program. While European officials urged Tehran to reengage with Washington, the talks concluded with little sign of progress.
When asked whether ground forces would be required to defeat Iran, Trump replied: “Well, I’m not going to talk about ground forces, because the last thing you want to do is ground forces.”
The war began on June 13, when Israel launched strikes on Iran, escalating tensions in a region already strained by the ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023.
Trump and the White House have said a decision will be made within the next two weeks on whether the U.S. will become militarily involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. So far, Trump has oscillated between advocating for a swift diplomatic resolution and suggesting that Washington could join the fighting on Israel’s side.
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