President Trump on Sunday proposed that Iran and Israel should “make a deal” using U.S. trade as a diplomatic lever, invoking his past interventions in other international disputes.
He posted his comments on Truth Social, referencing several conflicts he said he helped resolve during his first term.
Trump wrote that previous diplomacy between India and Pakistan was achieved “by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks,” and described similar outcomes in Serbia and Kosovo, and between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
He argued that the ongoing talks between Iran and Israel are already underway and credited his informal diplomacy with preventing broader regional conflict.
He emphasized that he “does a lot, and never get credit,” but said “that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand.” He concluded the post with the slogan: “MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump also attributed recent de-escalation between Serbia and Kosovo, and the temporary lull in tensions over the Nile, to his own diplomatic efforts. He warned that without direct engagement by Washington, these peace efforts “would not have happened”
While Trump did not offer specific proposals, his remarks come amid intense Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and reciprocal missile attacks, raising international concerns of a wider conflict. Trump described the U.S. as a potentially stabilizing force, offering incentives through trade rather than military intervention.
There has been no official response from the Israeli or Iranian governments. U.S. officials have reiterated publicly that the United States is not directly involved in the military escalation.
