Trump Wants Nuclear Deal, End to Israel-Iran War by Next Week
June 17—Sources close to the White House report President Donald Trump believes that an acceptable deal ending Iran's nuclear weapons ambition could be worked out in "a few days," and that there is no reason to continue Israel's increasingly devastating attack on Iran—its nuclear facilities, its missile site, and its military leadership—that has decimated its chain of command. The sources say that Trump wants "a pause" in the war for several days to allow him and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to deliver a signed deal, with the help of Omani mediators.
Trump yesterday left the ongoing meeting of G-7 leaders in western Canada, saying that he had to return to Washington to deal with the crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron, hardly a confidant of Trump, said that the President was going home to work on a "ceasefire."
"I am not working for any ceasefire," Trump told reporters, while urging residents of Tehran to evacuate, "while they can." Trump indicated he would be working on "ending the killing."
Iran Seeks Ceasefire, Trump Eyes Strategic Pause
"Iran has urgently called for an immediate 'ceasefire' in the hostilities, to allow for the start of a new round of nuclear talks, in which they say they will be more flexible," said a source. "But a ceasefire would require some formal agreement between the parties, and that is something that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Bibi [Netanyahu] might not be willing to agree to quickly. A pause achieves the same effect but is less formal. Trump could get both sides to agree to a pause, with Bibi allowed to continue his war if there is no deal. The Iranians can be prodded to accept, if not just by Trump—he can bring in his helper [Russian President] Vladimir Putin to push them to the table."
Sources report that Trump and Putin have been coordinating efforts to end the dangerous conflict, which has seen escalating air and missile attacks from both sides across the last five days since Netanyahu launched his deadly attacks June 13.
Iran’s Military Weakness and Concessions
These and other sources report that the Iranians, whose military weakness has been exposed in the Israeli attack—where Israeli air forces operate without resistance over Iran, and where attacks have been launched by Mossad-directed security forces and agents inside Iran—have communicated to Trump that they will accept a deal on enrichment where the Russians, operating a heavily inspected plant inside Iran, would provide them with enriched Uranium well below weapons grade; they had rejected a similar plan in previous talks. The U.S. will agree to provide them with a schedule and terms for sanctions relief.
Most importantly, "Iran had long ago agreed to forgo any nuclear weapons development, for all time," which was the main object of the deal—and at least the stated purpose of Bibi's onslaught.
Trump vs. Netanyahu: Conflicting Motives
"I think the Iranians have finally figured out that Trump and Bibi are on two different wavelengths on this," the source stated. "The messianic Jewish leader Bibi is running a crusade to eliminate the historical and biblical enemy of Jews and Israel, the Persian Empire. Trump just does not want Iran to have nukes. This is not surrender by Iran. But it is at least some of their leaders coming into alignment with reality.
"Trump had given them a way out, a fair deal, that could have been reached within his proclaimed 60-day deadline. They played games with him—especially the Ayatollah Khamenei—and Bibi saw his opening and moved."
"The U.S. did not formally participate in the attack," the source confirmed, "but they have provided some logistical support, including providing airborne refueling capabilities for Israel strike fighters and bombers. And the U.S. continues to assist in shooting down Iranian missiles and drones attacking Israel."
Netanyahu, the sources report, had hoped that the Iranians would attack U.S. bases and personnel for this "help," but "they did not have a death wish and did want to offer a path for direct U.S. involvement."
Trump’s View on Iran’s Nuclear Capability
"Trump believes that the only way to prevent Iran from developing a bomb is through negotiation," said another source. "Iran is an advanced nation, with one of the most capable and advanced scientific cadres in the world. As a nation, they have the ability to build bombs, provided they have fissionable fuel, which they can easily make. The CIA had long ago reached that assessment. So there really is no military solution to the crisis. And Bibi knows that."