Washington: As violence escalates between Israel and Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump is positioning himself as a global mediator, determined to avoid dragging the United States into another major Middle Eastern conflict. While reaffirming America’s support for Israel, Trump insists that direct military involvement will only occur if U.S. assets or personnel come under attack.
The ongoing crisis, which has seen Iran respond to a major Israeli assault on its nuclear and military sites with a barrage of missile strikes targeting Israeli cities, marks one of the most volatile foreign policy moments of Trump’s presidency. In response, the U.S. has assisted in intercepting incoming missiles, fulfilling existing defense agreements, but Trump has been clear: there will be no offensive American action—at least for now.
Speaking publicly and engaging in quiet diplomacy behind the scenes, Trump has declared his readiness to broker peace. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote, “We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict,” positioning himself as a unique figure capable of halting the violence.
Appearing on ABC News over the weekend, the president reiterated his cautious approach. “We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” he said. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have acknowledged discussions with U.S. counterparts but confirmed that no detailed plans for U.S. combat involvement are underway. Instead, Israel’s focus remains on defending itself, potentially acting alone if needed to dismantle Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
According to senior White House sources, the conflict could stretch on for weeks. Despite the prolonged timeline, Trump remains committed to a restrained posture, emphasizing diplomacy as the best route forward. Although scheduled diplomatic talks between American and Iranian representatives in Oman were canceled recently, administration insiders remain hopeful that negotiations could eventually resume.
The administration’s stance reflects both strategic considerations and domestic political sensitivities. While figures like Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urge a more forceful show of support for Israel, Trump continues to resist calls for deeper involvement, mindful of his long-standing criticism of previous U.S. military interventions. “They sent our warriors on nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us,” he told cadets at West Point last month, pledging to avoid similar entanglements.
For now, the Trump administration is carefully balancing its support for Israel with a broader goal of avoiding direct war. The president remains committed to resolving the conflict through a combination of strength, diplomacy, and calculated restraint. Whether this approach can hold as the conflict intensifies, however, remains an open question.
