‘When I stop they will stop’: Trump claims Israel will stop attacks on Iran when he ‘tells them to’
‘They will do what I tell them,’ U.S. President Donald Trump Declare and project authority as the war rages on in Iran. Trump’s comments were a bold display of confidence, suggesting that key U.S. ally Israel would eventually take his cues, asserting that the Israeli-led power center in Tel Aviv Benjamin Netanyahu Once he decides to stop the conflict, he lines up and halts military operations.“They’re going to do what I tell them,” Trump told Time magazine. “They’re a good team player. When I stop, they stop. They stop unless provoked, in which case they have no choice, but when I stop, they stop.”The remarks appeared to be a departure from his previous position in an interview with The Times of Israel, in which he described ending the war as a “mutual” decision with Netanyahu.The conflict dates back to February 28, when Trump launched Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign against Iran. This operation resulted in the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a dramatic escalation of the situation and having far-reaching consequences.According to a detailed report in Time magazine, the path to war was anything but linear. The report describes Trump, angered by leaks from within his administration, initially signaling a halt to action at a Feb. 27 meeting but then changing course hours later. He reassembled a group of trusted aides and authorized the attack that night.The report also reveals Netanyahu’s relentless push for a sustained offensive against Iran. During a lengthy meeting in Washington, the Israeli leader is said to have urged Trump to keep going: “We’ve come this far, Donald. We have to finish what we started,” warning that Tehran could use delays to advance its nuclear ambitions.Trump acknowledged Iran’s resilience despite the military escalation. “They’re capable of enduring tremendous pain. So I respect them. The fact is, I think they’re better negotiators than fighters,” he said, underscoring Washington’s frustration and grudging respect as it searches for possible ways out as domestic support for the war wanes.
