US President Donald Trump said that the US is "ready" to make peace with Iran, specifying that such an opportunity would be "great", Agence France-Presse reported. Just a few months earlier, Trump had supported Israel's bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, BTA reported.
"We are ready to make a deal when you are ready," Trump addressed the Iranians during a speech delivered in the Israeli Knesset, calling on Tehran to "recognize Israel's right to exist."
"Nothing would be better for this region of the world than for Iranian leaders to renounce terrorism, to stop threatening their neighbors, to stop funding groups affiliated with their state and to recognize Israel's right to exist," he declared, before emphasizing resolutely: "They have to do it, they certainly have to."
Trump assured that "neither the United States nor Israel are experiencing hostility towards the Iranian people. We just want to live in peace. Even to Iran, the hand of friendship and cooperation is extended."
On June 13 of this year, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, killing high-ranking officials and scientists linked to Iran's nuclear program, as well as hundreds of civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel in the 12-day war.
"By and large, they've been hit hard, haven't they? On one side or the other, it would be incredible if we could make a deal with them. Would you agree with that? Wouldn't that be a good thing? Because I think they want it, they're tired of it," the US president added to Israeli lawmakers.