Trump pushes for Israel-Iran peace deal, citing India-Pakistan ceasefire

NEW YORK: U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration is engaged in a diplomatic effort to defuse the Israel-Iran crisis, underscoring that the two Middle East rivals should make a deal like Pakistan and India did after his intervention last month.

“Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!,” he said in a post on Truth Social media platform.

Trump said there were many unspecified meetings about the issue happening and encouraged the two countries to make a deal. And in an interview with ABC News, he cited the possibility that Russia’s Vladimir Putin could help.

In his post, Trump sounded hopeful that Washington would be able to bring about a deal between longtime rivals Iran and Israel.

Apart from India and Pakistan, Trump said, “Another case is Egypt and Ethiopia, and their fight over a massive dam that is having an effect on the magnificent Nile River. There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way!”

Trump, who used trade as a leverage to bring Pakistan and Indian clashes to a halt on May 10, referred to many calls and meetings as part of the U.S. diplomatic drive to have peace between Iran and Israel.

“Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”