|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Edited by: Fern Sidman
President Donald Trump firmly denied reports on Wednesday that the United States, in collaboration with Israel, is planning a large-scale military operation against Iran, according to a report on Wednesday in the New York Post. Instead, Trump emphasized his desire for Iran to “peacefully grow and prosper,” provided the country does not develop nuclear weapons. His comments follow a series of escalating tensions, including his recent warning that Iran would be “obliterated” if it attempted to assassinate him.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump dismissed claims of an imminent strike, stating, “Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens, ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.” He reiterated his longstanding opposition to Iran’s nuclear program, writing, “I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon.”
According to the information in The New York Post report, Trump suggested that the best course of action would be a “Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement” that would allow Iran to develop economically without the threat of nuclear armament. He expressed his enthusiasm for diplomatic engagement, calling for immediate efforts to negotiate such an agreement and proposing a grand celebration in the Middle East once it is signed. “We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!” Trump declared.
However, as The New York Post report highlighted, Trump’s statements regarding Iran were not the only significant foreign policy comments he made this week. The president also put forward a highly controversial proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip, which he claims would facilitate economic development and long-term stability. His remarks came during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded quite positively to the idea.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said, according to The New York Post. He elaborated on a vision in which the U.S. would be responsible for clearing unexploded munitions, demolishing damaged infrastructure, and completely leveling the area to make way for large-scale economic development. Trump stated that his plan would create “unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
The New York Post report indicated that Trump’s proposal also includes the mass relocation of Gaza’s approximately two million residents to neighboring countries. While Trump described this as a “transitional phase,” he explicitly stated that Palestinians from Gaza would not be permitted to return once relocated. “Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years,” he said, according to The New York Post.
During the press conference, Trump further described the Gaza Strip as a “hellhole” and speculated that many of its residents would not want to return even if given the choice. However, The New York Post noted that he did not provide a detailed timeline or logistical framework for how such a massive resettlement effort would be executed.
The report in The New York Post contextualized Trump’s remarks within the broader timeline of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His proposal comes just one month after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement that facilitated the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. While Trump’s vision for Gaza represents an unprecedented approach, it raises significant questions regarding international law, humanitarian considerations, and the feasibility of such a large-scale displacement plan.
Trump’s latest comments on both Iran and Gaza signal a bold, unconventional foreign policy stance that is likely to provoke intense debate. His dismissal of an imminent military confrontation with Iran may reassure some, but his call for renewed nuclear negotiations could face resistance from hardliners on both sides. Meanwhile, his Gaza takeover proposal is certain to draw both support and criticism as it challenges the long-standing dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
