U.S. President Donald Trump said the decision on when to end the ongoing war with Iran will be made jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though he indicated that the final call will ultimately rest with him. Speaking in a phone interview with The Times of Israel, Trump said both leaders are closely coordinating their approach to the conflict.
Trump described the decision as a mutual process but emphasized that he would determine the timing of the war’s conclusion when he believes the moment is right. He said the United States and Israel have been working closely together since launching the joint military operation against Iran and suggested that the two countries remain aligned on strategic decisions.
The U.S. and Israel began their coordinated military campaign on February 28 with strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeted key military and nuclear infrastructure. In the interview, Trump said the operation was necessary to prevent Iran from posing a threat to Israel and the wider region.
During the conversation, Trump praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict, describing the Israeli prime minister as a strong wartime leader. Trump said the partnership between Washington and Jerusalem had been central to the military campaign and claimed their efforts had significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities.
Trump declined to speculate on whether Israel might continue military operations if the United States chose to end its involvement. He suggested such a scenario was unlikely, adding that the current strategy would likely resolve the conflict before that situation arises.
The interview took place shortly after Iranian state media reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, had been selected as Iran’s new leader following his father’s death. Trump said he would wait to see how events unfold under Iran’s new leadership.
Trump also repeated his call for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges in Israel. The U.S. president said Netanyahu should be able to focus fully on leading the country during the war rather than dealing with legal proceedings.
The White House has suggested the conflict could continue for several more weeks, with officials estimating the war might last between four and six weeks depending on developments on the ground and the success of ongoing military operations.
