Trump says US will ‘lead the pack’ in potential war against Iran
The Cradle, April 25, 2025 ─
The president denied blocking Israel’s proposal for a joint attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, but said he would prefer a deal if possible.
US President Donald Trump repeated once again the threat of a bombing campaign against Iran during an interview with Time magazine published on 25 April, during which he discussed a range of issues, including potential Saudi normalization with Israel and the Russia–Ukraine war.
When asked about reports that he blocked an Israeli plan for a joint attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump said, “that’s not right.”
“I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately, I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped,” he said.
The interviewer asked the president if he was worried Israel would “drag” the US into a war with the Islamic Republic, to which he answered “no.”
When asked if he would stay out of a potential war between Israel and Iran, Trump said: “No, I didn’t say that. You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”
“I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran. Nobody else could do that,” he claimed, saying “sure” when asked if he would be willing to meet with Iran’s president or supreme leader.
Recent reports have suggested a somewhat positive atmosphere in nuclear talks between the US and Iran. However, Washington has publicly called for a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment capabilities – something Tehran rejects.
Trump was also asked about US–Saudi relations and Washington’s efforts to broker a normalization deal between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
The interview’s release coincided with a Reuters report saying that the US is set to offer the kingdom an arms package worth over $100 billion, including missiles, radar systems, and C-130 transport aircraft.
“Well, what I want, and the reason I’m doing it, is because Saudi Arabia, I happen to like the people very much, and the Crown Prince and the King – I like all of them, but they’ve agreed to invest a trillion dollars in our economy,” he said when asked about an upcoming visit to the region.
“One trillion dollars. I’m then going to Qatar, and I’m then going to UAE, and then I’m coming back, and then we’re making another. I think our foreign policy has been incredible, and it was before, and it is now. You sort of got a little glimpse of it,” he added.
“Well, I tell you what: I think Saudi Arabia will go into the Abraham Accords … Yeah, and by the way, I think it will be full very quickly,” he went on to say, criticizing the former administration of Joe Biden for failing to secure a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Trump also reiterated his optimism that he could broker an agreement to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. “I believe I’m the only one that can get this thing negotiated,” he said.
None of the questions or Trump’s answers touched on what is happening in Yemen, where the US is engaged in a brutal campaign involving daily airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, including a cancer hospital and numerous residential neighborhoods. Over 100 people have been killed, including women and children, since last month as a result.
The interview also made no mention of Iraq or Syria.
While speaking to Time, Trump blamed Biden for the hundreds of children killed by Israel in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“There was no money for Hamas. There was no money for Hezbollah. There was no money. Iran was broke under Trump, and you know that, he knows that, broke. They had no money, and they told Hamas, we’re not giving you any money. When Biden came and he took off all the sanctions, he let China and everybody else buy all the oil, Iran developed $300 billion in cash over a four-year period. They started funding terror again, including Hamas,” he said, claiming that 7 October attack would have never happened if he was president at the time.