Trump: I Want Something 'Better Than a Ceasefire'

President Trump left the G7 summit in Canada on Monday to focus on the new Israeli-Iranian conflict, but how that might play out remained unclear Tuesday morning. Details:

• No ceasefire: Trump made clear in remarks to reporters and on Truth Social that he's not interested in negotiating a ceasefire. "We're looking for better than a ceasefire," he told reporters on Air Force One, reports the Wall Street Journal. "An end. A real end, not a ceasefire. An end. ... Or (Iran) giving up entirely, it's OK too." On Truth Social, he reiterated he's working on something "much bigger" than a ceasefire, without elaborating.

• Unclear: BBC correspondent Anthony Zurcher notes that Trump declined to explain what might be "better than a ceasefire." His take after the seemingly deliberate "opaque" statements: "What happens next is very much in doubt."
• The choice: A New York Times analysis says the main choice for Trump comes to down to this: A final attempt at diplomacy with Iran on its nuclear program or a decision to join Israel's military attack with bunker-busting weapons. Without the latter, Israel's campaign to wipe out the Iranian program may be futile. But Trump has insisted repeatedly he does not want the US involved in this kind of Mideast conflict.
• Envoys: Trump left open the possibility of sending Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to talk with the Iranian government. "Not sure yet, I may," he said aboard the presidential plane. "Depends on what happens when I get back." Later on Truth Social, he wrote: "I have not reached out to Iran for 'Peace Talks' in any way, shape, or form. ... If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table—Would have saved a lot of lives!!!"

(Iran has reportedly been signaling it wants a quick deal to end the current hostilities.)