President Trump warned Sunday that the US could get directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict if things continue to escalate.
While Trump predicted that Iran and Israel will “make a deal” to end the deadly violence that has seen the Jewish state and Islamic republic exchange countless missiles since Friday, the president said the US may find itself involved if a truce doesn’t happen.
“We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,” Trump told ABC News.
Trump suggested that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, could serve as a mediator between Israel and Iran, both of which the Kremlin has maintained relations.
“He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation,” Trump said, referring to Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“This is something I believe is going to get resolved.”
Despite Trump’s denial that the US is already involved in the Mideast conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Tehran on Sunday that it is clear Israel has been coordinating its attacks with the “agreement and support of the United States.
“We have received messages from the US through various channels over the past two days stating that the US had no involvement and will have no involvement in this attack,” he said. “As I said, we don’t believe the US’s claim.”
As the attacks between Israel and Iran escalate, the US State Department said it has authorized the “voluntary departure of family members and some non-emergency U.S. government employees” from Israel.
“US citizens who wish to depart should not delay in taking advantage of commercial transportation options,” the State Department said in a memo, adding that the embassy’s shelter-in-place order remains in effect until further notice.
