Trump Says Netanyahu Has ‘No Choice’ But to Accept Iran Deal
NBC News reported Sunday that President Donald Trump told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker a deal to end the Iran conflict is close. Trump added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have no choice but to accept the outcome, asserting that he personally calls the shots on the matter.
Conflict Marks a Hundred Days
The interview came as the U.S. military campaign against Iran reached its hundredth day. Trump declined to call the conflict a war outright, describing it instead as a military exercise given America’s overwhelming firepower advantage. He said Iran’s navy, air force, and air-defense systems had been effectively neutralised since the first strikes.
Trump also acknowledged that thirteen American service members had died in the campaign. He framed that toll as historically low compared with past U.S. military engagements, though he said every loss was one too many.
Also Read: What Operation Epic Fury Means for U.S. Force Posture in the Middle East
Naval Blockade and the Economic Squeeze
A central pillar of the U.S. strategy is a naval blockade that Trump defended vigorously. He said Iran had attempted its own blockade first, and the American response had been decisive. Trump estimated Iran was losing between $400 million and $500 million daily as a result, a pace he called economically unsustainable for Tehran. He said Iran’s leadership structure had also been hollowed out through multiple tiers of command.
Trump credited Pakistani officials, specifically the field marshal and prime minister, with helping broker a brief ceasefire period that preceded the current negotiating push. He said numerous other parties were also involved in the diplomatic process.
Also Read: Pakistan’s Role in Iran Ceasefire Talks Draws International Attention
Background: A Conflict That Reshaped the Region
The U.S. strikes on Iran began roughly one hundred days ago under the banner of Operation Epic Fury. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously declared the war concluded, though Iran subsequently launched fresh attacks on American regional allies, complicating that assessment. The episode renewed debate over whether the naval blockade constituted an act of war under international law. Trump brushed aside that framing, saying he simply does what he believes is necessary.
What Comes Next
Trump was direct about his confidence in the outcome. He said that whether a formal deal is reached or not, the United States wins either way. On the question of troop levels, he indicated the roughly 50,000 deployed personnel were positioned out of caution rather than necessity, leaving open the possibility of future drawdowns.
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