Trump Sought 2-Week Window For Iran, Then Struck Within 2 Days
US President Donald Trump distanced himself from his self-proclaimed peacemaker claim, a day after bashing the Nobel authorities for not acknowledging his anti-war efforts, with "spectacular" strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran early this morning.
The attacks came on expected lines, but the timing had a surprising element.
US Bombs Iran: Live Updates
On June 20, the President had sought a two-week deadline to decide whether the US would get involved in the Middle East crisis. A day later, heavy B-2 bombers were seen heading towards their target. The next morning, the President declared that the US forces had struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites in Iran.
Iran's nuclear program had long been on the US hit list. But despite Israel, which sees Iran's Islamic regime as an existential threat, calling on the US to join their war, Trump waited, making diplomatic efforts and issuing threats.
Israel, meanwhile, hit multiple nuclear sites in Iran on June 13, and once again yesterday.
Tehran has been enriching its uranium to up to 60% levels, nearer to the weapons-grade levels of 90%, but had maintained so far that it would use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes only. Israel never agreed. The US didn't either.
Iran's nuclear safety centre has ruled out any danger to locals in the nuclear site area, but the forces have launched strikes on Israel in retaliation.
Trump Slams A "Bully"
Trump portrayed Iran as a "bully" in the Middle East region after Tehran walked out of the nuclear talks with the US. Iran made its reservations known and clear that there shall be no nuclear talks until Israel stops its aggression.
Warnings have been part of the US's tactics prior to the attacks to deter them from their nuclear ambitions, with Tel Aviv and Washington asserting Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons. However, Trump shied away from admitting any preparation to target Tehran.
On June 17, he gave an evacuation call for Tehran, warning that his "patience was wearing thin". He called on Iran for an "unconditional surrender", but again, there was no talk about direct attacks.
On June 18, he gave a mixed signal: "I may do it, I may not do it - nobody knows what I'm going to do." Two days later, he sought a two-week window to decide on getting involved.
The early morning strikes were followed by another warning by Trump: "Remember, there are many targets left. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill."
That One Last Attempt
Trump reportedly made one last attempt at talks with Iran before the US bombers rained explosives on Iran. Axios reported that Trump and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to arrange talks between senior US and Iranian officials last week.
The development followed a phone call from Erdogan during the G7 meeting last week in Canada. The Turkish leader proposed a meeting the next day between the two sides, Axios reported, with White House officials claiming Trump already had "signals" that the Iranians wanted back-channel talks.
The plan even included sending Vice President JD Vance and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, it said.
However, with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei going into hiding amid his assassination fears, he couldn't be reached to approve such talks, the media reported, citing US officials with direct knowledge of the matter.
The Nobel 'Peacemaker'
Trump has so far portrayed himself as a global peacemaker who could stop wars and bring warring parties to the table for talks. Until it came to Iran, the President had arrived at the conclusion that the strikes were necessary for bringing peace.
He claimed credit yesterday for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan recently, despite New Delhi denying any US role in the halt of hostilities with Islamabad. He claimed that he even stopped a war between Serbia and Kosovo, and ensured peace between Egypt and Ethiopia. He had earlier claimed that Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if he were the President back in 2022.
But, he lamented, he won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for any of his efforts.
His idea of peace appeared to have changed by June 22, with him declaring that "now is the time for peace" after the US strikes on Iran. "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," he said in his address from the White House.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
25 minutes ago
- Hans India
311 more Indian nationals return home, 1428 evacuated from war-hit Iran so far
The Indian government continues to bring back Indian nationals, including students stranded in the war-torn Iran, under the Operation Sindhu. The latest batch of 311 Indians arrived in the national capital via a special flight from Mashhad, even as the tensions escalated to a new high in the Middle East region following the bombing of key Iranian nuclear facilities by the US bomber planes. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to X on Sunday to share an update on India's evacuation drive from Iran under the Operation Sindhu, and also gave exact numbers of evacuees from the war-hit zone. 'Operation Sindhu continues. 311 Indian nationals arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Mashhad at 16:30 hrs on 22nd June. 1428 Indian nationals have now been evacuated from Iran,' said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, in a tweet. Kashmiri students comprise a large portion of the contingent, being evacuated from the Gulf state. J&K Students Association also thanked the government for the sustained evacuation drive from the conflict-torn zone. 'The Mahan Air flight (W50071A) from Mashhad, Iran, carrying over 280 Indian students, including 200+ from Kashmir, has safely landed in Delhi. A moment of immense relief and joy for families who waited with anxious hearts,' said the J&K Students Association on X. It further said, 'We thank the Ministry of External Affairs, Government authorities and all those officials engaged in the operation for their swift response, tireless coordination, and support in ensuring the safe evacuation of our students from Mashhad, Iran. Your efforts brought our students home.' Meanwhile, the Indian government has taken up the task of evacuating the Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals from the Gulf nation, being hit by Israeli and US strikes. The Embassy of India in Tehran announced on Saturday that citizens of Sri Lanka and Nepal would be evacuated by the Government of India, as per the requests from respective governments.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
'When this president speaks, the world should listen': US briefs on Iran strikes codenamed 'Midnight Hammer'
The United States defence department on Sunday briefed the media on Operation 'Midnight Hammer', confirming its success in "obliterating" Iran's nuclear ambitions. It informed that US military conducted targeted strikes at Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz and the operation was being planned for "months". US secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, categorically hinted at Donald Trump's warnings against Iran's possession of nuclear weapon and said, "When this President speaks, the world should listen, and the US military, we can back it up." "When POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation. Otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability will not exist. This is not the previous administration. President Trump said no nukes. He seeks peace and Iran should take that path," he added. Follow live updates on Iran-Israel crisis Here are key points from the briefing: Successful strikes: US defense secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed successful precision strikes on Iran's Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities, ordered by US President Trump. Strategic planning: The operation was the result of months and weeks of planning and coordination, particularly with Israel, indicating it was not a spontaneous decision. Coordinated effort with Israel: Hegseth credited Israel as a key ally in the operation, acknowledging their role in the joint preparation and execution of the mission. Mission objective: The goal was to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program; Hegseth said the mission 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear ambitions. No regime change goal: Hegseth clarified that the mission was not aimed at regime change in Iran. No civilian targets: The operation specifically avoided targeting Iranian troops or civilians. Clear deterrence message: The operation was intended to reassert American deterrence and demonstrate that the US will act swiftly and decisively to protect its people, interests, and partners. Trump's longstanding warning: Hegseth emphasized Trump has warned Iran for over a decade against developing nuclear weapons, asserting this operation fulfilled that stance. Military strength: He highlighted the operation as proof of America's unmatched military capability and restored global deterrence. 'Bunker busters' used: The strike featured the longest B-2 Spirit bomber mission since 2001 and marked the first operational use of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) — a powerful bunker-busting bomb designed to target deeply buried facilities. Iran's reaction: Iran condemned the strikes as illegal and vowed to continue its nuclear program despite the attack.
India.com
30 minutes ago
- India.com
No Nukes For Iran...: US Defence Secy Hails Spectacular Military Success After Airstrikes
Israel-Iran Conflict: After the United States struck Iran's nuclear sites in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, amid tensions with Israel, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated that the strikes were "an incredible and overwhelming success." He also added that United States President Donald Trump has consistently said for over a decade that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. "Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordeau, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran's nuclear program. It was an incredible and overwhelming success," Hegseth said. "The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear that we had devastated the Iranian nuclear program. It's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people..." he added. #WATCH | US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says "Last night, on President Trump's orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade… — ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025 Trump On Iran's Nuclear "For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon, full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated. Many Presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran's nuclear program, and none could until President Trump," the US Secretary of Defence said. On the other hand, in his first public remarks since the 'precision' strikes in Iran, Trump warned that he could order further action if Tehran does not agree to a satisfactory peace agreement. In his address to the nation from the White House on Saturday (local time), the US President said, 'There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we've witnessed over the last eight days.' Trump thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said, 'I want to thank Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.' Top brass of the US political leadership stood beside US President Trump as he delivered the remarks, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth. Trump's announcement comes just two days after saying he had opened a two-week window for diplomacy. Israel-Iran Conflict The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday, with the US launching strikes on the latter. The conflict started after Jerusalem, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, codenamed 'Operation Rising Lion.' In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. On Saturday (local time) US bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities, after which several world leaders have weighed in on the continued tensions.
