According to the Jerusalam post, Donald Trump said the decision on when to end the ongoing war with Iran will be made jointly with Benjamin Netanyahu, though he emphasized that he will ultimately make the final call.
In a brief phone interview with The Times of Israel, the US president described the conflict as a coordinated effort between Washington and Jerusalem against the Islamic Republic, insisting the war was necessary to stop Iran from threatening Israel.
“I think it’s mutual, a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,” Trump said, suggesting that while Netanyahu will play a role in consultations, the final authority rests with the United States.
The war between the US-Israeli alliance and Iran began on February 28 following a series of strikes targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure. One of the attacks reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, marking a dramatic escalation in the regional conflict.
Trump defended the campaign and claimed the operation had significantly weakened Tehran. “Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it. We’ve worked together. We’ve destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel,” he said.
When asked whether Israel might continue military operations even if the United States decided to halt its strikes, Trump dismissed the possibility. “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary,” he said.
The interview took place shortly after Iranian state media announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, had been appointed as Iran’s new leader by the country’s Assembly of Experts. Trump declined to comment directly on the appointment, saying only, “We’ll see what happens.”
The US president renewed his criticism of Isaac Herzog over the Israeli president’s refusal to pardon Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial in Israel on charges including bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
“Bibi Netanyahu should be given that pardon immediately,” Trump said. “I think [Herzog is] doing a terrible thing by not giving it. We want Bibi to be focused on the war, not on a ridiculous pardon.”
Herzog’s office has previously said that the issue is being reviewed according to Israeli law and that any decision will follow legal consultation with the Justice Ministry.
Trump also praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict, calling him a strong wartime leader and emphasizing their cooperation against Iran. “Bibi’s done a great job. He’s been a wartime prime minister,” Trump said. “We’ve worked together.”
The US president further argued that the weakening of Iran could have broader consequences across the Middle East, particularly for militant groups backed by Tehran such as Hamas.
“Many people will disarm because of [the war against Iran],” Trump said. “Because right now, Iran is in a position that it’s never known before, and it’s only going to get worse for them.”
As the conflict continues, the White House has avoided committing to a fixed timeline for the war, though officials previously suggested it could last several weeks. Trump reiterated that the decision to end the campaign will come only when the moment is right.
“I’ll make a decision at the right time,” he said.