Middle East crisis Reactions to Israel-Iran

Analysis: Trump faces his biggest decision as president

Donald Trump is at a crossroads and faces his biggest security decision of his presidency, writes Stephen Collinson in an analysis on CNN.

On the one hand, Israel is pushing for the United States to join the conflict with Iran. To access Iran's nuclear energy facilities deep underground, American GBU-57 bombs, so-called bunker busters, are required.

On the other hand, however, there are many of Trump's own Maga supporters, notes Collinson. According to profiles such as Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson, an attack on Iran would reject Trump's entire "America first" strategy with promises to end the wars in the Middle East.

"Regardless of what he decides, the consequences will be decisive for Israel's security, the Middle East at large, and the power and influence of the United States," writes Collinson.

Sky News' James Matthews writes in an analysis that Trump still believes and hopes to reach an agreement with the Iranians at the negotiating table.

By calling for an immediate evacuation of Tehran, the US president is trying to put maximum pressure on Iran's leaders. Trump's negotiating position has certainly been strengthened, Matthews believes, but the lack of trust and his CV with many empty promises are not in his favor in the talks with Iran.

Trump: Will not kill Iran's supreme leader - at least not now

Donald Trump says that the US "knows exactly" where Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding. The president writes on Truth Social that Khamenei is an "easy target" but that he is safe.

"We will not kill him, at least not now," Trump writes.

He also emphasizes that Iran must not attack civilians or American soldiers in Israel.

"Our patience is running out," the president's statement reads.

Shortly after the statement, Trump published a new post in which he wrote:

“Unconditional surrender!”

The statements come after Vice President JD Vance suggested that the US may take “additional measures” to stop the Iranian nuclear energy program. In a lengthy statement on the speculation about whether or not the US will enter the conflict, Vance writes that Trump has shown “remarkable restraint”.

Analysis: What remains now is the 13,000-kilogram question

Despite the US having strengthened its military presence in the Middle East in recent days, the big question remains whether Donald Trump will intervene in the war between Iran and Israel. Dan Sabbagh at The Guardian writes that Fordow, one of two major Iranian uranium enrichment facilities, appears to have escaped without damage despite Israeli attacks.

To reach the facility, American GBU 57 bombs, known as bunker busters, have been identified as an option. Only the United States has a bomb large enough to destroy Fordow, writes Sabbagh.

The BBC's Frank Gardner writes that the question of whether the United States should get involved in the war is the "13,000-kilogram question," referring to the weight of the bunker busters. Israel wants to reach the underground facilities at Fordow to destroy Iran's ability to enrich uranium.

"They can't do it from the air, but the United States could, if they decided to," writes Gardner.

Israel has neither bunker busters nor aircraft capable of transporting the bombs, note New York Times journalists David E Sanger and Jonathan Swan.

"If Trump holds back, it could mean that Israel's main goal in the war is never achieved," their text says.