US President Donald Trump (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump declared: “They will do what I tell them,” highlighting his authority as the war on Iran continues. In a bold show of confidence, Trump’s statements indicated that Israel, America’s main ally, would eventually take it from him, stressing that the power center in Tel Aviv led by Benjamin Netanyahu would comply and stop military action the moment he decided to end the conflict.“They will do what I tell them,” Trump told TIME. “They were a good team player. They will stop when I stop. They will stop unless they are provoked, in which case, they won’t have a choice, but they will stop when I stop.”This statement appears to differ from his previous position in an interview with The Times of Israel, where he described ending the war as a “mutual” decision with Netanyahu.The conflict dates back to February 28, when a Trump-led military campaign — Operation Epic Fury — was launched against Iran.
The operation resulted in the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, representing a dramatic escalation with far-reaching consequences.According to a detailed report published by Time magazine, the path to war was not linear at all. The report described how Trump, angry about leaks within his administration, initially indicated a halt to the process during a meeting on February 27, but reversed course hours later.
He re-engaged a tight circle of trusted aides, and authorized the opening strikes that same night.The report also highlighted Netanyahu’s continued pursuit of a sustained attack against Iran. During a lengthy meeting in Washington, the Israeli leader reportedly urged Trump to move forward: “We’ve come this far, Donald. We have to finish what we started,” warning that Tehran could use the delay to advance its nuclear ambitions.Despite the military escalation, Trump acknowledged Iran’s ability to withstand. “They can withstand tremendous pain. So I respect them for that. The truth is I think they are better negotiators than they are fighters,” he said, underscoring frustration and grudging respect as Washington searches for a possible way out amid declining domestic support for the war.
