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Home News Israel at War Iran War

Trump's dramatic flip on Iran revealed

WSJ reveals the conversation at Les Misérables that changed everything. "Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do," he said.

by  Erez Linn
Published on  06-14-2025 01:43
Last modified: 06-14-2025 11:17
Trump's preemptive Iran strike is a great service to humanityLukas Bischoff/iStock via Getty Images; Alex Kolomoisky; AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

PM Netanyahu and President Donald Trump | Photo: Lukas Bischoff/iStock via Getty Images; Alex Kolomoisky; AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

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A pivotal exchange during intermission at the Kennedy Center's production of "Les Misérables" Wednesday evening marked a dramatic turning point in President Donald Trump's approach toward Iran, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Senator Lindsey Graham approached Trump during the performance break to commend the administration's diplomatic handling of Iran's nuclear program without casualties.

Trump's response revealed his growing frustration with stalled negotiations. "Yeah, we're trying," the president acknowledged regarding the faltering talks with Tehran. "But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do," he added, words Graham interpreted as reference to potential Israeli military action against Iran.

Rescue teams work outside a heavily damaged building, targeted by an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital Tehran on June 13, 2025. Israel carried out strikes against Iran early on June 13, targeting its nuclear and military sites as well as residential buildings in Tehran, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region. (Photo by AFP)

The Wall Street Journal reported that this conversation occurred during a transformative week that witnessed Trump transition from attempting to prevent Israeli attacks to endorsing a comprehensive bombing campaign targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and leadership positions – a dramatic reversal highlighting deteriorating prospects for diplomatic resolution.

The president confirmed Friday his prior knowledge of Israel's assault plans, maintaining that the devastating operation could actually enhance chances for nuclear negotiations, despite Iran's announcement of withdrawal from scheduled Sunday talks. "They should have made a deal and they still can make a deal while they have something left, they still can," Trump stated to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump's optimism had dimmed considerably earlier that week. During a Sunday gathering at Camp David, he convened his national security advisors for Middle East discussions, expressing mounting pessimism about Tehran's willingness to reach agreement, according to US officials briefed on the session.

A scheduled Monday conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loomed, and Trump indicated his intention to request delayed military action until Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's diplomatic initiatives concluded, officials familiar with the planning disclosed.

Trump had established a two-month negotiation deadline in correspondence with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dating to March, with that timeframe expiring during the current week. However, Khamenei had rejected American proposals permitting temporary domestic uranium enrichment in exchange for eventual centrifuge operations cessation.

Netanyahu's persistent advocacy for strikes against Iranian nuclear installations provided constant pressure, with this threat gaining momentum throughout the period. During Monday's call with the Israeli leader, Trump emphasized his preference for extended diplomatic efforts with Tehran, administration officials revealed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu places a note in between the bricks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City, June 12, 2025 (GPO/Handout via REUTERS)

The president's confidence in his diplomatic strategy continued eroding, however. Netanyahu reiterated his familiar position that Iran would refuse Trump's desired agreement and that Israel must maintain strike preparations, these officials confirmed.

Trump appeared to absorb Netanyahu's assessment. "I'm getting more and more less confident about it," he admitted regarding nuclear deal prospects in a Wednesday New York Post interview. "They seem to be delaying, and I think that is a shame, but I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago."

Netanyahu had spent years attempting to undermine US-led negotiations with Iran over nuclear programs, arguing that only complete destruction of enrichment centrifuges and related facilities could guarantee Tehran wasn't secretly pursuing weapons development.

The Israeli premier celebrated Trump's first-term decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under President Barack Obama, though he later opposed Trump's second-term pursuit of a strengthened replacement deal.

Intelligence assessments completed in January determined Israel was contemplating strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The analysis predicted Israel would pressure Trump's administration to endorse such operations, viewing him as more supportive than former President Joe Biden. Israeli officials believed, according to intelligence evaluations, that opportunities to halt Tehran's nuclear weapons pursuit were diminishing rapidly.

Growing concerns about Israeli attacks and Iranian retaliation prompted Wednesday's State Department directive ordering all non-essential personnel departures from the Baghdad embassy, while authorizing voluntary evacuations of non-essential staff and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth simultaneously approved voluntary military dependent departures throughout the Middle East region.

Army General Erik Kurilla, senior US commander for the Middle East, cancelled scheduled congressional testimony and returned to Central Command headquarters in Tampa as regional tensions escalated.

While anxiety intensified across the Middle East and Washington, Trump enjoyed his preferred musical performance at the Kennedy Center, accompanied by Graham and additional supporters during the evening's entertainment.

Thursday's conversation between Trump and Netanyahu proved decisive, with the Israeli leader declaring it the final day of Trump's 60-day timeline for Iranian deal-making. Netanyahu insisted Israel could delay no further, explaining to officials familiar with the discussion that Israel required self-defense and enforcement of Trump's own established deadline.

Trump indicated the US wouldn't obstruct Israeli actions, administration officials reported, while emphasizing American military forces wouldn't participate in any offensive operations against Iranian targets.

At the White House, Trump told assembled reporters he wouldn't characterize attacks as imminent, "but it is something that could very well happen." Despite claims that US-Iran negotiations remained close to agreement, he warned Israeli strikes could "blow it."

Israel initiated operations while Trump attended a Thursday evening congressional picnic on White House grounds. He subsequently joined Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, and additional senior officials in the Situation Room for operational monitoring.

Israel executed the campaign independently with no American involvement, Rubio confirmed in a statement acknowledging Israeli pre-operation notification to Washington authorities.

That statement represented the sole US government comment during the unfolding assault. Explosive strikes damaged Iran's critical Natanz nuclear facility while eliminating senior military commanders including Major General Hossein Salami, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leader.

Iran reported Israel's initial offensive killed 78 individuals and wounded approximately 320 others across multiple attack waves. Netanyahu declared operations would continue indefinitely as required for mission completion.

Trump, who began the week opposing Iranian attacks, rapidly endorsed the campaign as successful and potentially beneficial to diplomatic objectives.

"Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left," he posted Friday on social media platforms, "and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.

Tags: 6/14Donald TrumpIranIsraelOperation Rising Lion

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