Trump peacemaker photo tarnished by Israel Iran conflict after Israeli attacks against Iran upended US diplomatic efforts and increased the danger of a full-scale regional war. Israel struck Iranian targets in one of its widest attacks so far on Thursday, targeting military and nuclear sites. The action ignored US President Donald Trump’s frequent calls for restraint and further undermined fissures in his foreign policy agenda.
Trump vowed to put an end to wars and bring in peace. But almost five months into his second term, that promise seems to be imploding—with no Gaza ceasefire, stalemated Ukraine negotiations, and now a perilous blowup in the Middle East.
Netanyahu Snubs Trump’s Plea for Restraint
Even after private lobbying by Trump to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel made a bold attack on Iran. It is a direct slap in the face of Trump’s already fragile diplomatic position, according to analysts.
Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had campaigned intensely for patience from Israel while US–Iran nuclear talks stalled already. Israel’s move now threatens to unleash a broader war—a situation Trump had committed himself to stopping.
Peace Initiatives Struggle Across Regions
Trump began his second term on a high note: a short-lived Gaza ceasefire brokered at the last minute before taking office. That peace was soon shattered. The war in Ukraine continues, too, despite Trump’s promise to end it “before Day One” in office.
Meanwhile, there has been no momentum on expanding the Abraham Accords—Trump’s sole foreign policy achievement from his first term. Within his administration, infighting over foreign policy has resulted in dozens of officials being removed from major departments, such as the Pentagon and State Department.
Democrats Slam Trump’s Middle East Record
Democrats hold Trump responsible for canceling the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal and not putting forward a viable alternative. Senator Chris Murphy termed the move “a disaster of Trump and Netanyahu’s own making.”
Trump and Republicans had long accused the Iran deal of being weak. But now, with Iran in the crosshairs and no diplomatic solution on the horizon, the critics say the region is more on the brink of war than peace.
Bigger War or Temporary Setback?
Iranian analysts argue that Iran can now seek to target US interests or resume Red Sea attacks using Houthi proxies. Israel, in turn, has signaled this was merely the “first round” in a larger attack on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Israel almost certainly cannot blast Iran’s buried Fordow factory without American military assistance—aid the White House has not offered. But whether Tehran will respond is still unclear. Israeli attacks appear also to have hit senior Iranian officials.
The days ahead will indicate whether the crisis deals a death blow to Trump’s international peacemaker brand or only postpones his foreign policy plans. Either way, his vision of peace is put to its toughest test to date.
