Trump says it’s very hard to ask Israel to stop airstrikes on Iran amid military gains

US President Donald Trump on Friday indicated that he is unlikely to urge Israel to stop its airstrikes on Iran, despite stalled diplomacy and growing international pressure for de-escalation, including from the United Nations.

Speaking to reporters after landing in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump said Israel’s current military advantage made any request for a ceasefire diplomatically difficult.

“I think it’s very hard to make that request right now,” Trump said. “If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing. But we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said.

The president later added, “It’s very hard to stop when you look at it.”

“Israel’s doing well in terms of war. And, I think, you would say that Iran is doing less well. It’s a little bit hard to get somebody to stop,” Trump said.

The president confirmed that negotiations with Iran are ongoing, but played down expectations of a breakthrough in the near term. He made it clear the US would take its time before deciding whether to support Israel more directly.

“We’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “I’d say two weeks would be the maximum to see whether people come to their senses.”

Trump also dismissed European-led mediation efforts, which failed to produce results during recent talks in Geneva.

“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us,” Trump said. “Europe is not going to be able to help in this one.” While reaffirming his image as a “peacemaker,” Trump rejected comparisons between the current standoff and America’s 2003 invasion of Iraq—a war he has frequently criticized.

“There were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were,” Trump said. “That was somewhat pre-nuclear nothing like it is today.”

He added of Iran’s current nuclear program, “It looked like I’m right about the material that they’ve gathered already. It’s a tremendous amount of material.”

Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise on both sides. Israel’s air campaign has killed 639 people in Iran, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes have killed 24 civilians in Israel, according to local authorities.

Inputs from Associated Press