{"id":4018,"date":"2025-06-18T17:45:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T17:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/?p=4018"},"modified":"2025-06-21T02:27:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T02:27:56","slug":"trump-says-chill-bibi-goes-full-thrill-so-whos-in-charge-of-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/18\/trump-says-chill-bibi-goes-full-thrill-so-whos-in-charge-of-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump says \u2018chill,\u2019 Bibi goes full thrill. So, who\u2019s in charge of the Middle East?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Behind the rhetoric, Israel\u2019s offensive has revealed just how little control the US now wields<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the Academy handed out Oscars for political theater, Donald Trump would be a shoo-in for the 2025 award for Worst Performance in a Leading Role. His latest remarks are less about statesmanship and more about saving face as global events spin far beyond the grasp of American diplomacy. And the harder he tries to project himself as a dealmaker pulling strings behind the scenes, the clearer it becomes: Western dominance is cracking, and Washington is reacting more on impulse than strategy.<\/p>\n

The latest flashpoint \u2013 the 2025 escalation between Israel and Iran \u2013 has exposed the crumbling illusion of American leadership. Despite Trump\u2019s claim that he \u201cconvinced\u201d<\/em> Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to strike Iran, the facts tell a different story. Netanyahu brushed off the advice and launched a sweeping assault on Iranian targets \u2013 not just military, but symbolic. In one bold move, he derailed already fragile nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, revealing exactly who sets the agenda in the region now.<\/p>\n

Faced with this reality, US leaders had two choices: admit their influence over Israel had faded, or publicly support the strikes and cling to the image of leadership \u2013 even if it meant further undermining their credibility as a neutral arbiter. Unsurprisingly, they chose the latter. Backing Israel at the expense of diplomacy with Iran has become business as usual. Washington isn\u2019t conducting the symphony anymore; it\u2019s trying to stay in rhythm while the conductor\u2019s baton is in someone else\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

So when Trump talks about having \u201cleverage\u201d<\/em> over Israel, it sounds more like community theater than statesmanship. Even he doesn\u2019t seem to believe the part he\u2019s playing. In 2025, once again, the United States isn\u2019t leading the charge \u2013 it\u2019s being dragged along.<\/p>\n

And the more American leaders insist everything\u2019s fine, the more obvious it becomes: the age of Western supremacy is fading out, in a blaze of theatrical flair that rivals Trump\u2019s own off-script improvisations.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"Steve
MAGA\u2019s Civil War: Who dares to take on the Israel lobby?<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What did Trump actually say?<\/h2>\n

A close look at Trump\u2019s statements \u2013 and those from his administration \u2013 in the wake of Israel\u2019s strike on Iran reveals a political paradox: while the US officially opposed escalation, it did nothing to stop it. Why? Because the political cost at home was too high. In an election year, Trump couldn\u2019t risk a fight with one of the GOP\u2019s most reliable bases: pro-Israel voters and the powerful lobbying machine behind them.<\/p>\n

Trump tried to play it both ways. On one hand, he said, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a surprise to me,\u201d<\/em> and claimed he neither endorsed nor blocked the strike. But just days earlier, he boasted: \u201cI talked to Bibi. He promised not to do anything drastic. We held him back.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a crucial detail. At least on the surface, the Trump White House wanted to avoid escalation. But once the missiles flew, Trump pivoted hard:<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael has the right to defend itself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe US wasn\u2019t involved in the operation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut if Iran hits us, we\u2019ll hit back harder than ever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This about-face reveals just how little influence Washington had. Netanyahu played the hand he wanted \u2013 defying US interests, derailing diplomacy, and still compelling American support. Warnings from Washington didn\u2019t even register.<\/p>\n

Caught flat-footed, Trump scrambled to regain control with vague reassurances:<\/p>\n

\u201cIran might still get a second chance.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re open to talks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIranian officials are calling me. They want to talk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

These weren\u2019t policy statements. They were PR \u2013 a bid to dodge blame for a failed containment strategy. His line that \u201cI gave Iran a chance, but they didn\u2019t take it\u201d<\/em> is less a fact and more a way to recast himself as the peacemaker \u2013 the guy who ended tensions between India and Pakistan and now promises to \u201cmake the Middle East great again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"Fire
Fyodor Lukyanov: Here\u2019s how the West made Israel-Iran war possible<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Is this genuine diplomacy? Or a carefully crafted performance aimed at domestic audiences \u2013 and international ones, too? Trump even welcomed Vladimir Putin as a potential mediator: \u201cHe\u2019s ready. He called me. We had a long talk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

By doing so, he tried to recast the situation from an American failure to a global problem that needs collective resolution \u2013 conveniently shifting the spotlight away from US accountability.<\/p>\n

And while Trump played diplomat, Axios reported that Israel had actively lobbied for US participation in the strikes, and the Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump had promised Netanyahu he wouldn\u2019t stand in the way. All signs point to this: any restraint Washington projected was a smokescreen for its inability \u2013 or unwillingness \u2013 to rein in its closest Middle Eastern ally.<\/p>\n

In the end, Israel got what it wanted. The US got sidelined. And Iran got a loud-and-clear message: America isn\u2019t calling the shots. Netanyahu exploited the weaknesses baked into the US political system \u2013 proving once again that alliances don\u2019t equal parity. And while Trump talks of giving Iran another chance, the truth is this: Washington is now playing by rules written in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

What Comes Next?<\/h2>\n

The current Israel-Iran confrontation has sparked alarm worldwide. But while tensions are high and missiles have flown, the chances of full-scale war still appear slim. Tehran, despite its fiery rhetoric, has shown restraint. It seems to be holding out for a return to diplomacy \u2013 and possibly a new round of talks with Washington.<\/p>\n

The US, too, is in no mood for another drawn-out Middle East war. With its strategic focus shifting elsewhere and voters tired of endless foreign entanglements, Washington is eager to avoid getting pulled into something deeper. A slow, uneasy de-escalation looks like the most plausible outcome \u2013 the only question is how long that will take.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
\u2018If Iran falls, we all lose\u2019: Why Tehran\u2019s allies see this war as civilizational<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Make no mistake: Israel\u2019s strikes inflicted heavy damage \u2013 particularly on the IRGC\u2019s infrastructure and the supply networks for Iran-backed forces in Syria and Lebanon. But Iran\u2019s retaliation \u2013 a massive drone and missile barrage on Israeli territory \u2013 was a shock to the Israeli public. It caused serious destruction and considerable casualties, raising questions about Netanyahu\u2019s gamble.<\/p>\n

Inside Iran, the regime faces mounting economic pressure and growing public frustration. Yet there are no signs of collapse. The leadership remains intact, held together by tight control and elite loyalty. A new deal with the US could offer much-needed economic relief, giving leverage to more pragmatic voices in Tehran\u00a0that favor engagement over confrontation.<\/p>\n

As for Israel, the longer-term political fallout is still unclear. Netanyahu may have boosted his image as a tough, decisive leader \u2013 but if talks between Washington and Tehran resume and produce even a temporary agreement, Israel could find itself isolated.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu\u2019s open friction with the Biden administration over Gaza and Iran may come back to haunt him. If diplomacy moves forward without Israel, it could leave him out in the cold \u2013 and facing heat from both domestic critics and international partners.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, regional powers like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are stepping up. They\u2019ve launched a flurry of diplomatic efforts \u2013 including quiet lobbying in Washington \u2013 to further rein in Israeli escalation. These countries have no interest in another war. They\u2019re worried that if things spiral, US bases and assets across the region \u2013 from Iraq to the Gulf \u2013 could become targets. That would bring serious security risks and economic disruption, just as these nations are trying to push forward with growth and reform.<\/p>\n

Their message is clear: further chaos in the Middle East is not an option. These states are now emerging as key voices for de-escalation \u2013 working to steer the crisis back to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n

Final thought<\/h2>\n

Despite the intensity of the current standoff, the likeliest path forward remains a tense but managed de-escalation. Neither Iran nor the US wants a war. Israel, meanwhile, is walking a tightrope \u2013 trying to look strong while navigating a shrinking space for unilateral action. That leaves a narrow window for diplomacy. The real question is: when will the politics \u2013 in all three capitals \u2013 catch up with the need for a deal?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Behind the rhetoric, Israel\u2019s offensive has revealed just how little control the US now wields If the Academy handed out Oscars for political theater, Donald Trump would be a shoo-in for the 2025 award for Worst Performance in a Leading Role. His latest remarks are less about statesmanship and more about saving face as global…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4018"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4021,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4018\/revisions\/4021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.developeternal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}