US President escalates rhetoric amid ongoing strikes, insisting Washington is acting independently while pressing Tehran for a negotiated settlement.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Israel is not responsible for the latest attacks on Iran, while issuing a stark warning that the United States will “bomb them heavily” if Tehran fails to reach a deal to end the escalating conflict.
The remarks come as the US conducted fresh airstrikes on Iranian targets, further intensifying tensions in the Gulf and raising fears of a wider regional war.
Trump Rules Out Israeli Role in Strikes:
Speaking to reporters, Trump explicitly distanced Israel from the most recent US-led strikes, saying Washington was acting on its own in response to Iranian aggression, including the downing of a US helicopter.
He emphasised that the operations were independent American actions and not coordinated with Israeli forces, amid reports of separate exchanges between Israel and Iran.
Trump reiterated his preference for a diplomatic solution but left little doubt about the military alternative.
“There are options. Do we go in and bomb them heavily and finish it once and for all? Or do we try to make a deal? Those are the choices,” he said.
The US president warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in significantly more intense strikes than previous rounds, targeting Iranian military and strategic infrastructure.
Trump Warns of Force if Diplomacy Fails:
The latest developments threaten to unravel a fragile ceasefire framework that had been in place since earlier this year. Iranian officials have condemned the US strikes as acts of aggression and vowed retaliation, while closing or threatening key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts warn that the heightened rhetoric and continued military actions risk drawing in other regional and international actors, with potentially devastating consequences for global energy markets and stability in the Middle East.
The White House maintains that its goal remains a negotiated settlement, but Trump’s comments signal a willingness to use overwhelming force if diplomacy stalls.