Trump Says Ending Iran War Will Be Joint Decision with Netanyahu

In a phone interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that any decision to conclude the ongoing war against Iran would be made in consultation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I think it's a mutual decision... To a certain extent. We communicate. I'll make the decision at the right moment, but everything will be taken into account," Trump said when asked whether he alone would decide to end the conflict or if Netanyahu would also have a say.

Trump framed the military action as a necessary defense of Israel. "Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything associated with it... We worked together. We destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel," he claimed, adding that had he and Netanyahu not been in power, Iran would have succeeded.

The remarks follow a statement from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday, who projected that the war in the Middle East is expected to last another four to six weeks.

The United States and Israel began striking targets within Iran, including in Tehran, on February 28. Iran has since conducted retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory and U.S. Military assets in the region.