Media Says Trump Seeks End to Iran War
Trump has communicated to aides that he believes hostilities could be wound down within that compressed timeframe and has urged his team to align planning accordingly, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, drawing on anonymous sources. Administration officials have additionally expressed hope that the situation will be resolved ahead of an anticipated mid-May summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Journal said.
The conflict has compounded pressure on Trump as he attempts to balance an increasingly volatile foreign policy landscape against pressing domestic concerns, including critical upcoming midterm elections. Within his own circle, fault lines have emerged — some allies pushing for a more hardline military posture, others advocating for a diplomatic off-ramp, the Journal reported.
The stakes were thrown into sharp relief Wednesday, when White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump favors a peaceful resolution with Iran but is prepared to escalate sharply if Tehran fails to accept the "reality of the current moment." The remarks came as Washington postponed planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure following what it described as "productive conversations" over the past three days — a characterization Iran has repeatedly denied.
Leavitt warned that should Iran refuse to accept that it has "been defeated militarily," Trump will ensure the country is "hit harder than they have ever been hit before," adding that the president "does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell."
Diplomatic back-channels have meanwhile produced little tangible progress. The US has reportedly transmitted a 15-point plan to Iran outlining demands covering Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as maritime security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran rejected the proposal outright, insisting any ceasefire would occur on its own terms and timeline, and put forward five conditions for ending the war — among them a complete halt to what it termed "aggression and assassinations."
On the prospect of direct face-to-face negotiations, including speculation over a potential meeting in Pakistan, Leavitt urged caution, saying nothing should be considered official until formally announced by the White House and warning against getting "ahead of our skis" on any talks potentially planned for the weekend.
The conflict was ignited on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, killing more than 1,300 people — including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — and triggering retaliatory Iranian strikes across the region that have severely disrupted global oil flows.
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