US President Donald Trump thanked Iran for its “very weak” attack on an American military base in Qatar on Monday, and said he would press Israel to stop attacks on the Islamic Republic.
In just a few head-spinning hours, the Middle East braced itself for Iran’s retaliation to US strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend, Iranian ballistic missiles illuminated the skies of Doha, and then regional officials leaked that the attack was coordinated in advance with the US to prevent casualties.
Before the smoke cleared, Trump went on his Truth Social network confirming that the attack had been telegraphed. He suggested that just days after dropping bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites, he was ready for peace, and would press Israel to also stop fighting.
“CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!” he wrote.
“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same,” he said.
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The comments are a wild turn for a president who just last week called on Iran to make an “unconditional surrender” as Israeli warplanes pummeled Tehran.
Trump is known for his unpredictable governing style, particularly in foreign relations, and it remains to be seen whether he will pressure Israel to stop its attacks on Iran. If it is any sign, oil traders appeared to take him seriously.
The price of Brent Crude, which rises when tensions in the Middle East are high, plunged 7.2 percent after Iran’s attack on the US’s Al-Udeid base in Qatar to trade at $71.48 a barrel, the biggest fall in almost three years.
Both Israel and Iran could use a break from fighting, US and Arab officials say. Tel Aviv has been pounded by Iranian missiles, suffering attacks unknown to the city since Israel’s founding in 1948.
Israel assassinated several of Iran’s senior military leaders, bombed energy infrastructure, air defence systems and nuclear facilities.
On Saturday, Trump ordered the US to drop bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites.
Iran’s retaliation against Al-Udeid base appeared to mirror similar flare-ups.
Trump said that Iran gave advance notice of the missiles and offered thanks, apparently revealing a choreography to show that Iran can hit back without causing American casualties that would be sure to trigger another US strike.
In 2020, Iran gave advance notice of its plan to attack the US’s al-Asad Airbase in Al-Anbar governorate in Iraq after Trump ordered the killing of its top general Qasem Soleimani.
