Trump and Netanyahu's Strategic Dance: The Good Cop, Bad Cop Tactics Against Iran

In the tumultuous backdrop of Israel's recent strike on Iran's nuclear sites, President Trump presented himself as a peacemaker, expressing his preference for a nuclear agreement over conflict. However, he suggested that preventing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from initiating an attack could be challenging. On June 12, when queried about a possible Israeli offensive, Trump remarked it appeared to be on the horizon. After the strikes occurred, he cautioned Iran to either comply with U.S. conditions for a nuclear deal or face harsher reprisals, indicating a strategy of using Netanyahu's aggressive stance to encourage negotiations. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio distanced the U.S. from direct involvement in the Israeli attack, despite recent claims that Trump had intervened previously. Netanyahu's approach, marked by increased military actions, aims to distract from domestic strife and gain favor with right-wing factions. His focus remains on eliminating perceived threats from Iran, potentially exacerbating tensions in the region.