Trump presented himself as a peacemaker: In the Middle East, that pose is further stuck

Israel’s attack on Iran crosses the ambitions of his most important ally, the United States, to conclude a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. And with that also the promise of US President Donald Trump that he would – in contrast to his ‘weak’ predecessor Joe Biden – be able to settle conflicts worldwide. Of ‘Peace Through Strength‘If Trump would put things in order as quickly as simple, he often repeated the campaign last year.

In Ukraine and Gaza, such ‘peace through strength’ has come within reach since his arrival – or even further out of the picture. But in the for decades lagging around the controversial Iranian uranium enrichment program, the White House – early on Friday morning – still had hope that an agreement could be concluded with Tehran.

An earlier international irandeal – achieved after a lot of effort with the support of China, Russia and Europe – blew Trump himself during his first term. In this second term he promised to close a ‘better’ variant. In recent weeks the Americans and Iranians have been negotiations, this Sunday a sixth conversation round would take place in the Omean capital Muscat. Now it is very uncertain whether it will continue.

Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give this process a chance in recent months. Both during a meeting in the White House and in a phone call on 22 May. When asked, Trump wanted to call that last conversation ‘not a warning’, but he would have said Netanyahu in his own words:  » I think it is not appropriate now, because we can arrange it with a very strong document, with inspections’ (..) and I said it would now be inappropriate to do this, because we are very close to a solution. « 

Warning

That Israel nevertheless wanted to proceed to military action, it became clear to the White House this week. American men and diplomats were brought to safety in the day before the attack. « I would like to prevent a conflict, » Trump said again on Thursday. « We are quite close to a reasonably good agreement. I much prefer an agreement. As long as I think there is an agreement (possibly), I don’t want them to go in (the Israelis), because that would mess it up. »

In spite of the latter warning from Washington, Israel bombarded A few hours later, among others, Iranian enrichment installations, a high Iranian soldier and two atomic scholars.

Although they were against in advance, the Americans do indeed give back cover to this Israeli attack

The disappointment could then be seen in the official response from foreign minister Marco Rubio. He spoke in a press statement of a « unilateral action » by Israel. « We are not involved in attacks on Iran and our highest priority is to protect American men in the region. Israel has informed us that they believe that this attack was needed for his self -protection. » In that economical explanation, the usual phrase was missing that Israel « enjoys the right to self -protection » and that the US will always help defend the country.

But even if they were against in advance, the Americans do indeed give back cover to this Israeli attack. After all, it is equipped with aircraft and weapons that are largely supplied by the US. And the Iranian retaliation attacks are now also being repelled with American -made anti -aircraft systems.

And if Iranian missiles and drones prick through this on a large scale, then Trump will immediately assist the Israelis. For the Republicans, and above all for their very loyal block of Evangelical-Christian voters, the security of Israel is a political and religious Holezaak.

Risks for Trump and his party

The fact that American support for his country in the past has proved to be unconditional, apparently Netanyahu gave the confidence that he could defy Trump on this point. Just as he was never adjusted by his predecessor Biden in his war against Gaza.

On Friday morning, Trump tried to limit the damage in a first reaction. He seized Israel’s action to force Iran back to the negotiating table. On his own Platform Truth Social he wrote That Tehran has had ‘chance of a chance’ and that much worse Israeli attacks are in danger. « Iran now has to close a deal, for nothing left. Save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death and destruction. Just do it before it’s too late. »

For Trump, however, the escalation that Israel has chosen, however, are of great risks. The president has an isolationist character and finds the Middle East as a businessman at most interesting as an economic wing area. If the Middle East now further ignites, it can affect the electoral opportunities of his party. For example, if American soldiers in the region could be targeted. Or if the oil price rises due to these new tensions and prices on the American gas pump increase.

From the peace negotiations that the US intended between Russia and Ukraine, he was already in danger of walking away. In the Middle East, Trumps campaign eposis as a peacemaker is now further due.

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