US President Donald Trump has cautioned that the United States might have to intervene directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran if the current situation continues to worsen.
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Trump highlighted that the U.S. is not presently engaged in the conflict but did not dismiss the possibility of future involvement.
"We’re not involved in it. It’s possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved," Trump stated, referring to the rapidly escalating military confrontations between the two long-standing adversaries.
The recent violence erupted on Friday when Israel executed a preemptive strike against Iran, targeting suspected nuclear and military facilities.
In retaliation, Iran has launched a series of missile and drone assaults on major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, resulting in days of turmoil and devastation on both sides.
Despite the ongoing bloodshed, Trump conveyed hope that diplomatic efforts could still succeed, forecasting that Iran and Israel would ultimately "reach an agreement" to reduce tensions.
In an unexpected development, Trump also proposed that Russian President Vladimir Putin could act as a mediator between the two countries, referencing Russia’s established ties with both Israel and Iran.
"He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long discussion regarding this. We talked about this more than his situation," Trump remarked, alluding to Putin’s conflict in Ukraine. "This is something I believe is going to be resolved."
However, Trump's comments were met with doubt in Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed reporters on Sunday that the Islamic Republic perceives the U.S. as already complicit in Israel’s assaults.
"We have received messages from the U.S. through various channels over the past two days indicating that the U.S. had no involvement and will not have any involvement in this attack," Araghchi stated. "As I mentioned, we do not accept the U.S.'s assertion."
In the meantime, the U.S. State Department has permitted the voluntary exit of non-emergency staff and their family members from its embassy in Israel due to escalating security issues. A memo from the department also advised American citizens to vacate the area at their earliest convenience.
"U.S. citizens who intend to leave should not hesitate to utilize available commercial travel options," the advisory indicated, while also noting that the embassy's shelter-in-place directive is still active until further notice.
Photographs from the area depict the harsh realities of the conflict: smoke rising over Tehran after Israeli airstrikes, and Israel’s Iron Dome successfully intercepting Iranian missiles in the skies above Tel Aviv.
Despite global calls for restraint, the situation remains unstable and unpredictable, with increasing concerns that additional international players may soon become involved in the conflict.