Trump: “Israel is Winning Right Now; It’s Hard to Call a Ceasefire at a Time Like This”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday afternoon that it would be "very difficult" to push for a ceasefire in Israel's war against Iran, due to Israel's "militarily success" and significant progress it has made toward dismantling Iran's nuclear program.

"If someone is winning, it's harder to stop".

Speaking to reporters near Air Force One, Trump explained his reluctance to push for a ceasefire at this point in the conflict.

"I think it’s very difficult to ask for that right now. If someone is winning, it’s harder to stop than when someone is losing," he said.

Still, Trump left the door open to a ceasefire under certain conditions, saying he "may" support such a move depending on how events unfold.

"We are ready, willing, and able, we’ve talked to Iran. Let’s see what happens," he added, referring to ongoing backchannel communications conducted by White House envoy Steve Witkoff with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran: No talks under fire

Meanwhile, Araghchi told European foreign ministers on Friday that Iran will not hold direct talks with the U.S. while Israeli attacks continue. According to two senior European diplomats familiar with the meeting, Araghchi made the Iranian position clear during high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, the U.K., and the EU.

An initial step, no breakthrough Although the two-hour meeting did not yield a breakthrough or new proposals, European officials described it as a preliminary step. Both sides agreed to meet again next week. The Geneva meeting was the first direct diplomatic contact between Iran and Western powers since the conflict began.

The European ministers had coordinated their approach with the Trump administration ahead of the meeting. However, Trump expressed skepticism about the European role, telling reporters: "Iran does not want to talk to Europe. They want to talk to us. Europe won't be able to help this time."

Wider issues on the table

European diplomats noted that the Iranians appeared more open than in the past to discussing not just nuclear limits, but also Iran’s ballistic missile program, support for regional militias and terrorist organizations, military aid to Russia, and the detention of European nationals.

Araghchi indicated that Iran is prepared to limit uranium enrichment under terms similar to the 2015 nuclear deal (from which Trump withdrew in 2018), but ruled out a full cessation of enrichment. He rejected suggestions to include U.S. representatives in future talks as long as Israeli military operations continue.

Clock is ticking

Trump has said he will make a decision within two weeks on whether to authorize a military strike. Araghchi told Iranian media that Tehran is willing to resume talks. However, he reiterated that Iran will not negotiate over its defensive capabilities.

European concern

Following the Geneva talks, the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, and the EU released a joint statement reaffirming their concerns about the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program.

For now, the gap between the battlefield and the negotiating table remains wide. But the coming days, with diplomatic channels still active and the military campaign ongoing, could determine whether this crisis ends at the table or on the tarmac.