WASHINGTON, JUNE 13 (AFP/APP/DNA):US President Donald Trump on Thursday implored Israel not to attack Iran and declared once again his goal was to be a peacemaker.
Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Trump’s closest international allies, brazenly defied his advice by unleashing a major military campaign described as a “preemptive” strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
The attack marks only the latest setback for Trump’s lofty goal set out at the start of his second term of being a “man of peace.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump has also boasted a warm relationship, has rebuffed his overtures on a ceasefire with Ukraine.
And Israel resumed another massive offensive in Gaza after talks bogged down on extending a ceasefire with Hamas reached with Trump’s support at the end of his predecessor Joe Biden’s term.
Trump’s friend and roving envoy Steve Witkoff — who has negotiated in all three crises — had been set to meet Iranian officials again Sunday in Oman.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement, made clear the United States was not involved in attacking Iran and warned Tehran not to retaliate against US troops in the region.
Rubio said that Israel advised that it attacked out of “self-defense,” but conspicuously did not say if the United States agreed. Trump, hours before the strikes, doubled down with a social media post saying he remained “committed to a diplomatic resolution” on Iran.
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