Just a week prior, President Trump appealed to Israeli officials to allow more time for negotiations, but Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed those overtures. Consequently, Trump appears to have aligned himself with Israel’s position. Philip Sawers noted that since Israel has seemingly provoked Iran, it might be preferable for the U.S. to take decisive action: “Get on with it and get it over with.”
However, many diplomats and officials from the E3 (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) hold a different perspective. They are concerned that U.S. involvement could escalate tensions into a broader regional conflict.
One E3 official emphasized that the objective of resuming talks with Iran is to secure assurances that Tehran will limit its nuclear program to civilian applications. “That is exactly where we were with the negotiations … which have been thrown off track because of Israeli activity,” the official remarked.
Despite efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron to position himself as the “peacemaker,” the official expressed skepticism about the potential outcome of upcoming conversations on Friday. Predicted to occur amid a tense atmosphere, the Geneva meeting is anticipated to function more as a platform for communication rather than a site for conclusive agreements. “Any meeting will be to get a message from the Iranians to the Americans [about] their intentions regarding their nuclear program,” the official explained.
Domestically, Trump also has significant reasons for maintaining distance from a potential conflict. He recently indicated that he is nearing an agreement with Netanyahu to address Iran’s nuclear threats, although he has not yet supported calls for regime change in Tehran.