A Wall Street Journal report says President Trump has told aides in recent days he wants to avoid a prolonged war with Iran and hopes the fighting can be wrapped up in the coming weeks. According to people familiar with the matter, Trump privately told advisers he believes the conflict is in its final stages and urged them to follow the four-to-six-week timetable he has mentioned publicly.
That timeline could conclude before the mid-May summit Mr. Trump has scheduled with Chinese President Xi Jinping. At the NRCC annual fundraising dinner, Trump said he had “settled eight wars” and asserted the United States was “winning another one.” He also suggested Iran was seeking a deal but was reluctant to say so publicly out of fear for their safety, adding, “There has never been a head of a country who wanted that job less than being the head of Iran.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president does not bluff and warned Iran not to miscalculate U.S. intentions in the region. Leavitt emphasized that Trump prefers peace and said planned strikes were postponed after Tehran indicated a willingness to talk. “President Trump’s preference is always peace,” she told reporters, adding that recent conversations had been productive and led the president to temporarily instruct the military to postpone planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.
Leavitt also reiterated the administration’s warning, saying Iran should not miscalculate again and noting previous losses to Iranian leadership and capabilities. She said Trump is prepared to “unleash hell” if Tehran refuses to accept that it has been defeated.
Iran, however, has rejected a U.S. proposal to end the conflict, insisting any cessation of hostilities must occur on Tehran’s own terms and timeline. Iranian officials say they will stop fighting only when their conditions are met and have vowed to continue defending themselves and to inflict further blows until their demands are satisfied.
This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received; the original publisher is responsible for its accuracy and completeness.
