Trump sets a timeline for ceasefire, even Israel's PM concedes: Iran can no longer threaten Israel
The Middle East conflict has dragged on for over a month, and both the U.S. and Israel are now showing signs of wanting to pull back.
In a recent interview, Trump clearly stated that military operations in Iran would end within two to three weeks, arguing that the U.S. has already achieved its goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. There is no longer any justification for staying, and the campaign may conclude even sooner—possibly within just a few days.
Trump also mentioned that if Iran were willing to negotiate, the war could end even earlier. But their participation or non-participation won’t make much difference anyway—the U.S. troops will withdraw once the deadline arrives.
Once the U.S. pulls out, the pressure shifts to Israel. Consequently, Netanyahu has unusually signaled a willingness to stop fighting. He stated that while Iran and its allies still retain a "limited" ability to threaten Israel, they have lost the capacity to endanger Israel’s very survival.
In other words, Iran can still strike Israel—but it can no longer destroy Israel. Isn't that a form of victory?
Compared to the U.S., Israel, which is fighting on seven fronts, finds it increasingly unsustainable. With Trump having clearly set a timeline for ending hostilities, Netanyahu has little choice but to take this opportunity to step down gracefully—lest he be left alone to face Iran’s wrath.
The current issue is this: while the U.S. and Israel want to stop fighting, Gulf states are eager to join in. Reports suggest the UAE has explicitly indicated it will participate in combat, joining forces with the U.S. to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while Bahrain is also showing signs of readiness.
Though other Gulf nations haven’t made public statements, they don’t want the war to end too quickly. After enduring so many attacks, they’re eager to retaliate. Moreover, Trump is reportedly pushing them to cover the cost of U.S. military presence.
Yet who decides when to stop? The final say lies not with the U.S., Israel, or the Gulf states—but with Iran itself. As the saying goes, “The barefoot fear no shoes.” From the moment the U.S. and Israel boldly invaded Iran, they should have anticipated this predicament of being trapped between a rock and a hard place.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861257082417228/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.