Donald Trump says he and Benjamin Netanyahu will mutually decide when to end war with Iran
US President Donald Trump says he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a joint decision on when to end the war with Iran. The conflict shows no signs of resolution, with Iran vowing to resist, and military operations possibly extending for weeks.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will mutually decide on when to end the ongoing war with Iran. Trump also said that it is unlikely that Israel will have to continue attacking Iran after the US halts its strikes.
When asked about the end of the war and Netanyahu’s role in it, Trump told The Times of Israel that he will have the final say.
“I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account,” he said.
“Iran would have destroyed Israel”
On the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury, Trump said Iran would have destroyed Israel and the Middle East if the US had not struck.
“Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it… We’ve worked together. We’ve destroyed a country that wanted to destroy Israel,” Trump said.
How long will US-Iran war last
The US and Israel launched the attack on Iran on 28 February. The conflict is already into its second week, and Trump has said that nothing short of a total Iranian surrender would end it. Iran, which has refused any form of surrender, has vowed to resist and retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US bases and assets across the Middle East.
Trump has so far set no timeline for the end of the war, which he says could take a few weeks. The Trump administration has publicly projected a potential duration of 4-6 weeks for the military operation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested it could extend to eight weeks or more, adding that the US is prepared for a "war of attrition".
However, others, including Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton, have argued that the conflict could drag on for months if the US fails to enforce regime change in Iran soon.
Many have also argued that after the initial shock following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have consolidated their positions and are in much better control of the country, compared to less than a week ago.
Will US puts boots on the ground in Iran?
The lack of a popular uprising, which the US had anticipated in Iran against the government, following the airstrikes, has also left those in Washington to seriously consider putting boots on the ground.
Trump has refused to roll out putting US boots on the ground in Iran. Over the weekend, reports said the Department of Defense cancelled a major training exercise for the elite 82nd Airborne Division’s headquarters element at Fort Liberty, which many saw as preparation for deployment in Iran.
On Sunday, Axios reported that the US and Israel discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional briefing that “People are going to have to go and get it”, when asked whether Iran's enriched uranium would be secured.
- The U.S. and Israel are coordinating military strategies against Iran, highlighting a mutual approach to foreign policy.
- The ongoing conflict is characterized by a lack of clear timelines for resolution, with potential for prolonged engagement.
- Internal and external pressures on Iran may influence the dynamics of the conflict and the U.S.'s military decisions.
About the Author
Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.