Former President Donald Trump made clear in remarks this week that he does not believe a ceasefire between Israel and Iran goes far enough. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he wants “a real end, not a ceasefire,” as tensions between the two nations intensify following Iranian missile attacks and Israel’s sweeping counterstrikes.
The comments came as Trump was returning from the G7 summit, which he left early due to developments in the Middle East. The former president criticized Iran’s ongoing aggression and emphasized that only a full cessation of hostilities — or Iran’s surrender — would suffice. “A complete give-up. That’s possible,” Trump added, leaving no ambiguity about his stance.
Trump also sounded alarms about the potential for nuclear escalation. “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he posted on Truth Social, urging civilians to “immediately evacuate Tehran!” He described the current conflict as a consequence of Iran’s refusal to sign a proposed nuclear agreement within a 60-day window he had imposed.
According to Trump, the opportunity for diplomatic resolution was lost when Iran failed to act. “They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before,” he told reporters. “They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties. But I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late.”
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a sustained campaign of airstrikes against Iranian targets. The strikes have reportedly hit nuclear facilities, military assets, and communications infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced the severity of the moment, declaring that Iran’s leadership — specifically Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — is the ideological engine behind the decades-long regional violence.
“We’ve had half a century of conflict spread by this regime,” Netanyahu said. “The ‘forever war’ is what Iran wants… and we can only [stop it] by standing up to the forces of evil.” His comments emphasize Israel’s position that its actions are not just retaliatory, but necessary for regional survival.
While some international voices have called for de-escalation, Trump’s framing of the conflict as a binary choice — surrender or destruction — highlights a belief that peace without accountability would be short-lived. His remarks suggest that any negotiation moving forward must be built from a position of strength, not compromise.
The stakes are monumental. With Iran edging closer to nuclear capability and Israel unwilling to tolerate it, the margin for diplomatic missteps narrows by the day. Trump’s refusal to endorse a ceasefire reflects a broader view: that temporary truces often serve as covers for rearming and regrouping, not genuine steps toward peace. When one side sees annihilation as victory, anything less than decisive deterrence risks rewarding aggression.
