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President Donald Trump on Friday called on Iran to swiftly reenter negotiations over its nuclear program just hours after Israel launched a wave of strikes targeting Tehran’s key nuclear and military infrastructure.
The rapidly unfolding crisis has jolted the Middle East and reignited fears of regional war. While Trump insisted the U.S. played no role in the Israeli operation, he acknowledged that Israel had used advanced American weaponry to target Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, its ballistic missile program, and several senior nuclear officials.
“This could be a second chance for Iran — before there is nothing left of what was once known as the Iranian Empire,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A Pivotal Moment for Diplomacy
Trump convened a high-stakes national security meeting in the White House Situation Room, warning Iran that resisting would only lead to greater destruction. Despite the strikes, Trump said his administration is still committed to diplomacy, noting that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to continue nuclear talks in Oman this weekend.
However, it remains unclear whether Iran will participate in the talks following the attacks. The State Department has not confirmed whether Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who has met with Witkoff in recent weeks, will attend.
“Iranian officials are calling me to speak,” Trump told NBC News, without elaborating.
Israel Moves First, U.S. Braces for Blowback
The Israeli military operation, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is being framed by Israel as a preemptive move to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Netanyahu vowed to continue the attacks “for as many days as it takes” to dismantle Iran’s program.
In response to the growing threats of retaliation, the Pentagon has repositioned U.S. Navy destroyers — including the USS Thomas Hudner — closer to the Eastern Mediterranean. The military is also preparing for potential strikes against U.S. assets in the region, according to two senior U.S. officials.
Iran has launched over 100 drones toward Israel, with Iraq and Jordan confirming overflights. Israeli officials said the drones were intercepted outside its airspace.
A Political and Strategic Tightrope
The strikes and Trump’s renewed calls for diplomacy highlight the president’s delicate balancing act between supporting a key ally and fulfilling a campaign promise to avoid foreign entanglements.
Trump campaigned on ending “forever wars” and criticized former President Joe Biden for restricting Israel’s military options. Now, Trump faces the same challenge, urging restraint while overseeing regional escalation.
“Trump isn’t targeting criminals in his mass deportation agenda, he is terrorizing communities,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said, while also calling on Trump to de-escalate.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) praised the administration’s diplomacy-first stance but warned of the dangers facing U.S. personnel in the region. Likewise, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, supported Israel’s right to self-defense but cautioned against a “destabilizing” all-out war.
“We do not want an all-out war in the Middle East,” Shapiro said. “That’s not only bad for the region — it’s bad for the globe.”
Fallout from Trump’s Past Foreign Policy
Trump’s call for renewed diplomacy comes years after he withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement brokered by the Obama administration, which imposed strict limits on Iran’s enrichment program in exchange for economic relief. Trump denounced the pact as the “worst deal ever.”
Now, the absence of a formal nuclear agreement and increased hostilities have clouded the path forward.
“No issue currently divides the right as much as foreign policy,” said Charlie Kirk, a prominent Trump ally, warning that this could fracture the MAGA movement.
What’s Next?
While Trump’s administration remains publicly committed to diplomacy, the region teeters on the edge. With Iran vowing retaliation, and Israel vowing persistence, Trump must navigate a volatile crisis that could define his foreign policy legacy — and shape the 2024 election.
“The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the world,” Trump posted, “and Israel has a lot of it — with much more to come.”
Whether Iran chooses the table or the battlefield remains an open — and perilous — question.
