Israel’s attacks on Iran derail US diplomatic efforts to secure new nuclear deal. Democrats criticize President Trump
By Wolfgang LANDMESSER
Donald Trump was impressed by the Israeli attack on Iran, saying the operation was “very successful,” “to put it mildly.” And on his social network Truth, the US president wrote: “There has already been a lot of death and a lot of destruction. But there is still a chance to end the massacre.” Iran must now make a deal to stop the attacks.
However, the praise for Israeli military action cannot hide the fact that the attacks come at a very inconvenient time for the United States. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had begun negotiations with Iran on a new nuclear deal. The talks were scheduled for Sunday. Because of the attacks, Iran has now canceled the talks for the time being.
INSULT TO THE PRESIDENT
In a conversation with Republican senators, Witkoff reportedly expressed concern that the Israeli bombings could provoke massive retaliation from Iran. The attack was a clear insult to the president, Democratic senator Tim Kaine told CNN: “The president has asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to give diplomacy a chance.” Now, they are disappointed that Benjamin Netanyahu carried out the massive attack anyway. Even if that were the case, Trump and his team are not suggesting it, but it remains unclear whether the US government tried to influence Israel and how. When a television reporter asked Trump directly whether the US military was involved in the attacks, the president declined to comment.
POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON THE US MILITARY?
The concern now is that Iranian retaliation could also affect US forces stationed in the Middle East. And that the US could be drawn into a new war in the Middle East. The risk of that has increased dramatically, said Democrat Kaine.
Overall, American diplomacy is currently presenting a weak image, Wendy Sherman, a senior state official under President Joe Biden, told CNN: “We have a very weak strongman as president.” He has so far achieved nothing in urgent conflicts in Ukraine, Iran or Gaza.
TRUMP’S CANCELLATION OF THE AGREEMENT IN 2018, A BIG MISTAKE
The president, however, sees himself as the one in control. The US has given Iran an ultimatum: A deal on the country’s nuclear program must be reached within 60 days. “Today is the 61st day,” the president wrote in Truth Social. “Now they have – maybe – a second chance.” For security expert Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution, that is exactly what should take priority: a nuclear deal with Iran – even if it seems particularly difficult to achieve now. At the same time, the expert does not believe that Iran will retaliate with special force, but with symbolic actions.
From the Democrats’ perspective, new negotiations would not have been necessary. In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump withdrew from the international agreement that controlled Iran’s nuclear program. The US must now deal with the consequences, said Democratic Senator Kaine: “President Trump made a big mistake by withdrawing from the agreement and thereby giving Iran the green light to enrich uranium.” But he added that it is never too late for diplomatic initiatives.
