US President Trump dismisses Europe’s role as Israel-Iran war escalates

President Donald Trump rejected on Friday a European diplomatic initiative aimed at preventing the Israel-Iran war from spiralling into a broader regional conflict. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Iran didn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us.” He also downplayed any ability to rein in Israel’s military campaign, noting, “Israel is doing well in terms of war, and I think you would have to say Iran is doing less well... it’s a little hard to get someone to stop.”

The conflict entered its eighth day today with both countries exchanging missile attacks. Israel struck Iranian nuclear-related sites and military targets in Tehran, including missile factories and a weapons research centre. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles, hitting several Israeli cities including Haifa.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered intensified strikes targeting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij, an internal security force. Katz said the objective was to force a mass evacuation from Tehran and destabilise the regime, claiming it was a direct response to Iranian attacks on Israeli civilians.

As the war escalated, European diplomats scrambled to revive diplomacy. British, French and German foreign ministers held three hours of talks with Iranian officials in Geneva, urging Tehran to re-enter direct nuclear negotiations with the United States. Their goal was to create a diplomatic off-ramp for Iran and avert a potential American entry into the war. But the talks ended without progress.

Iran’s top negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, ruled out any engagement until “the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed”. Trump, who had earlier in the week backed away from immediate military action and created a two-week window for diplomacy, reiterated his desire to be a “peacemaker” but insisted only direct US-Iran talks could produce results. “Europe,” he said, “is not going to be able to help.”

The Trump administration has proposed a deal that would require Iran to cease uranium enrichment. In exchange, Iran would receive access to enriched fuel through a regional consortium. Special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed the proposal with both Iranian and Egyptian officials, but Iran rejected the demand for zero enrichment. According to Arab and European officials, Iran offered to cap enrichment at 3.67 per cent, a level permitted under the 2015 nuclear deal, but would not halt the process entirely. The US found this unacceptable and awaits a firmer Iranian response before resuming formal talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron said any future negotiations must prioritise “zero enrichment”, curbs on ballistic missile activity and an end to Iran’s support for regional militant groups. German and British officials also expressed support for tougher terms, even though Europe had previously accepted limited enrichment under strict safeguards. The Geneva meeting concluded without setting a date for further discussions.

Israeli officials remain sceptical of Iran’s intentions. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar argued that Iran was using Israeli strikes as a pretext to avoid talks. “When they were not attacked, nothing happened with the negotiations,” he said.

As the West struggles to contain the fallout, China and Russia moved to position themselves as mediators. At a telephone call on Thursday, Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin urged restraint, condemning Israel’s actions and warning of regional spillover. The Kremlin described Israeli strikes as violations of international law.

China’s statement was more restrained, with Xi calling for an immediate ceasefire, particularly from Israel, but stopping short of outright condemnation. While Beijing seeks to portray itself as a stabilising force, its refusal to criticise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine casts doubt on its credibility.

As Washington debates whether to join the conflict, the diplomatic landscape remains fraught and uncertain, with both Israel and Iran showing no signs of stepping back.