Trump’s TIME Interview: Gaza Truce, Iran Strategy, Middle East/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a detailed interview with TIME, President Donald Trump shared insights on the Gaza ceasefire and broader Middle East realignment. He credited Iran’s military degradation and regional diplomacy for securing a historic peace agreement. Trump discussed Hamas disarmament, Israeli politics, hostage releases, and future prospects for lasting regional peace.
Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Strategy: Quick Looks
- Trump claims Iran’s weakened status enabled Gaza peace deal
- U.S. military strikes on Iran described as “flawless” and pivotal
- Trump says Netanyahu agreed to pause operations under pressure
- Gaza ceasefire involved hostage releases and regional cooperation
- Trump warns Hamas of “complete obliteration” if deal is violated
- Saudi-Israel normalization now seen as imminent by Trump
- President insists West Bank annexation by Israel “won’t happen”
- Marwan Barghouti’s release under consideration but undecided
- Trump highlights new “Board of Peace” to oversee Middle East diplomacy
- Emphasizes U.S. presidential strength as vital to lasting regional peace
Trump’s TIME Interview: Gaza Truce, Iran Strategy, Middle East
Deep Look
In a revealing interview with TIME, President Donald Trump offered a comprehensive breakdown of the behind-the-scenes events leading to the recent Gaza ceasefire, portraying the diplomatic achievement as the culmination of years of strategic military and geopolitical maneuvering — particularly against Iran.
Destroying the “Middle East Bully”
Trump repeatedly emphasized that the key turning point for Middle East peace was the U.S. military’s extensive airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure during his current term. The president described the 37-hour mission — involving over 100 planes and 52 refueling tankers — as flawless.
“Every bomb hit its mark,” he said, comparing the operation favorably against past U.S. failures like the Iran hostage crisis under President Jimmy Carter.
While independent assessments have questioned the extent of the damage, Trump insisted the strike had effectively neutralized Iran’s nuclear threat.
“They are no longer a bully,” he said, adding that this power vacuum allowed regional nations to cooperate without fear of Iranian retaliation.
Soleimani’s Killing and Long-Term Strategy
Reflecting on his earlier term, Trump tied the current ceasefire’s roots back to the U.S. strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, calling him a “serious threat” who was planning attacks on U.S. military bases. Trump explained that taking out Soleimani and two additional layers of Iranian leadership changed the regional power dynamics permanently, rendering Iran significantly weaker on both nuclear and conventional fronts.
Peace Through Strength
Trump credits his willingness to use force — unlike previous presidents — as the main driver behind the ceasefire deal. According to him, pilots had trained for decades for such an Iran strike but no administration had authorized it until his. This decisive move, he claims, made regional powers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE more open to peace efforts.
“Without removing the bully, the peace deal would not have happened,” he said.
Hamas Warning and Disarmament
The president made clear that if Hamas violates the ceasefire, there will be harsh consequences.
“Yes, they will be in big trouble,” he warned. He said Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of the peace deal, and if they don’t comply, a military response would be imminent.
Trump revealed that his advice to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pivotal in stopping prolonged military conflict in Gaza.
“You can’t fight the world,” he reportedly told Netanyahu. Trump argued that Israel was becoming isolated internationally and that continuing the conflict would have alienated even its closest allies.
The Hostage Breakthrough
One of the most notable achievements of the deal, Trump emphasized, was the release of 20 hostages held by Hamas. Trump described his frustration with prior piecemeal negotiations, insisting on the full release in one go
. “No more of that. You’re giving us the hostages, all of them,” he recounted. He noted that eventually even Hamas saw the hostages as liabilities.
The “Board of Peace” and Regional Oversight
Trump confirmed that he had accepted the role of chairman of the newly created “Board of Peace,” an international coalition tasked with overseeing Middle East stabilization efforts post-ceasefire. He said the board would include influential global leaders and wield significant power in shaping long-term diplomacy.
West Bank Annexation Off the Table
When asked about the possibility of Israel annexing the West Bank, Trump unequivocally stated, “It won’t happen.” He stressed that he had given his word to Arab allies, and Israel would risk losing U.S. support if it proceeded.
Palestinian Leadership and Abbas
Trump described Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as “reasonable” and respectful, despite a mixed reputation on the world stage. While not committing to Abbas as the future leader of Gaza, Trump acknowledged the Palestinian leader’s praise, saying Abbas told him, “You’ve done things no other president would have done.”
Iran Strategy
According to Trump, when the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities and eliminated senior commanders such as Qasem Soleimani, it transformed Iran’s standing. He stated that the removal of this “bully” eliminated a looming threat that would otherwise have blocked any serious deal. Without that threat, he argues, Arab states could support reconciliation with Israel. “If Iran was sitting there, powerful and a bully, it would have been impossible to make a deal like this,” Trump said.
Strategic Shift
This shift underpinned his account of how he pressured Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop the war in Gaza and agree to the terms.
Trump recalled telling Netanyahu: “Bibi, you can’t fight the world. You can fight individual battles, but the world’s against you.”
He said the Israeli leader was prepared to continue the war indefinitely but relented when the U.S. intervened. Trump described an Israeli error — a strike in Qatar attributed to Netanyahu — as the spark that united regional actors behind a ceasefire. He characterized the mistake as “terrible” but also as a catalyst.
Trump also addressed the issue of Israeli annexation of the West Bank, stating that he had given his word to Arab countries that annexation:
“will not happen.” If it did, he claimed, Israel would “lose all of its support from the United States.” He noted that the peace deal involves establishing a multilateral group he calls the “Board of Peace” which he will chair and which will wield influence over a new Middle East order.
Abraham Accords
On the broader prospect of Arab‑Israeli normalization, Trump predicted that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords by year‑end. He said the removal of the Iranian threat unlocked this possibility.
“We don’t have any threats anymore. We have peace in the Middle East,” he declared.
Asked about the durability of these changes, Trump said that while he remains in office he expects the deal to “only get better and stronger … and it’s going to be perfect.” He conceded, however, that what happens after his presidency could alter the trajectory:
“If a bad president comes in, it could end very easily … The Middle East has to understand that.”
In sum, Trump framed the Gaza ceasefire as the culmination of strategic military pressure, diplomatic leverage over Israel, and unity among Arab states enabled by a weakened Iran. He presented the agreement not as a simple truce but as a foundational shift — provided the U.S. remains engaged and firm.
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