(photo credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States has to make a deal with Iran and thinks a deal could be struck over the next month.
“We have to make a deal, otherwise it’s going to be very traumatic, very traumatic,” Trump told reporters.
Trump: ‘Best friend Israel ever had’
Meanwhile, Trump commented that he has “been the best friend to Israel I think that they’ve ever had,” in a press statement shared by the State Department on X/Twitter.
Trump: Israeli President Herzog should be ‘ashamed’
Trump added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should receive a pardon for corruption charges, saying President Isaac Herzog should be “ashamed of himself” for not granting one.
“I think the people of Israel should really shame him. He’s disgraceful for not giving it. He should give it,” Trump said during a White House event.
Hezog’s office responded in a late Thursday statement, reiterating that the president will examine the pardon request only after it has been reviewed by the Justice Ministry, as the law states.
“President Herzog values President Trump for his significant contribution to the State of Israel and its security. Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” the statement went on, noting that “contrary to the impression created by President Trump’s remarks, President Herzog has not yet made any decision on the matter.”
Trump, Netanyahu meet to discuss Iran negotiations, Gaza
This comes after Trump and Netanyahu met in Washington on Wednesday.
The pair discussed developments in Gaza and negotiations with Iran.
Trump noted that there “was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.”
“If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.
“Additionally, we discussed the tremendous progress being made in Gaza, and the Region in general. There is truly PEACE in the Middle East,” he wrote on Truth Social.
During the meeting, the prime minister presented intelligence on Iran’s military buildup, including developments related to its ballistic missile program. He also conveyed the message that if Trump decides to strike Iran, the operation should include targeting the ballistic missile project as well.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post