President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Israel would take a leading role alongside the U.S. in any potential military action against Iran if upcoming nuclear talks fail. His comments follow a surprise announcement earlier in the week that direct negotiations with Iran would begin Saturday in Oman — news that reportedly caught Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu off guard.
“If it requires military, we’re going to have military,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “Israel will obviously be very much involved — it’ll be the leader of that.” However, he quickly clarified, “But nobody leads us. We do what we want to do.”
The high-stakes talks are expected to involve U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. While Trump insists the talks will be direct, Iran has claimed they will be mediated. Witkoff may cancel his trip if Iran refuses face-to-face engagement.
Trump has given the negotiations a limited window — reportedly about two months — to produce results. “We have a little time, but not much,” he said, reaffirming his position: “The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon.”
Despite the threats, Trump emphasized he prefers diplomacy over conflict. He expressed hope for a prosperous Iran under a non-nuclear agreement and noted admiration for the Iranian people, while remaining critical of its leadership.
Trump officials said the public announcement of talks may have been intended to preempt Israeli objections and demonstrate a commitment to diplomacy first. Still, the president made clear: “We won’t be played for fools.”
