“They’ll do what I tell them,” US President Donald Trump declared, projecting authority as the Iran war rages on. In a bold show of confidence, Trump’s remarks suggested that America’s key ally, Israel would ultimately take its cue from him, asserting that the Tel Aviv power centre led by Benjamin Netanyahu would fall in line and halt military action the moment he decides to call time on the conflict.“They’ll do what I tell them,” Trump told Time Magazine. “They’ve been a good team player. They’ll stop when I stop. They’ll stop unless they’re provoked, in which case, they’ll have no choice, but they’ll stop when I stop.”The remark appears to diverge from his earlier stance in an interview with The Times of Israel, where he had described ending the war as a “mutual” decision with Netanyahu.The conflict traces back to February 28, when a Trump-directed military campaign — Operation Epic Fury — was launched against Iran. The operation resulted in the elimination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a dramatic escalation with far-reaching consequences.According to a detailed account by Time, the path to war was anything but linear. The report described how Trump, angered by leaks within his administration, initially signalled a halt to the operation during a February 27 meeting, only to reverse course hours later. Re-engaging a tight circle of trusted aides, he authorised the opening strikes that same night.The report also shed light on Netanyahu’s persistent push for a sustained offensive against Iran. During a lengthy meeting in Washington, the Israeli leader is said to have urged Trump to press on: “We’ve come this far, Donald. We have to finish what we started,” warning that Tehran could use delays to advance its nuclear ambitions.Despite the military escalation, Trump acknowledged Iran’s resilience. “They’re able to withstand tremendous pain. So I respect them for that. The fact is, I think they’re better negotiators than they are fighters,” he said, underscoring both frustration and a grudging respect as Washington looks for a possible off-ramp amid waning domestic support for the war.
