US president Donald Trump on Sunday called on Iran and Israel to “make a deal” as the two countries continue exchanging military strikes. However, he also suggested that fighting may continue before any agreement is reached. “I think it’s time for a deal,” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for Canada to attend the G7 summit. He added, “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens.”

The latest clashes between Iran and Israel mark a dangerous escalation in their long-standing conflict. For years, both sides have targeted each other through proxy groups and secret operations. But now, they are openly launching strikes against each other, raising fears of a wider war in the Middle East. The current round of fighting began on Friday, when Israel launched attacks inside Iran. The strikes reportedly killed senior military officers and nuclear scientists, and hit military bases, nuclear facilities, and residential areas. Trump declined to say whether he had asked Israel to hold back on further airstrikes. However, a senior US official told AFP that Trump had blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Posting on his Truth Social platform earlier, Trump said he believed that Iran and Israel “should make a deal, and will make a deal.” He added that “many calls and meetings” were taking place behind the scenes and that peace could come “soon”.