Trump warns Iran…"If the US is attacked, retaliation will be on an unprecedented scale"

"Israel’s attack is unrelated to the US"

Mediation efforts for Israel-Iran ceasefire negotiations are mentioned

There is a dominant prediction the war will be prolonged

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to retaliate against the United States in any form. He drew a clear line, emphasizing that the United States played no role in the recent Israeli attack. Iran and Israel have continued fighting for three days.

President Trump stated on his Truth Social account in the early morning of the 15th (local time), "If we are attacked in any way, shape, or form by Iran, the full power and strength of the US military will be unleashed at levels never seen before." He reiterated that "the US has nothing to do with tonight’s attack on Iran" and asserted that the US is not involved in Israel’s ongoing airstrikes against Iran.

Alongside his warning regarding the possibility of an Iranian attack, President Trump claimed, "We can facilitate negotiations between Iran and Israel to easily reach a resolution and end this bloody conflict."

Although he mentions the possibility of negotiations between Iran and Israel, it is still uncertain if this will materialize. Israel intends to continue targeting key personnel and infrastructure to cripple Iran’s chain of command. Iran, for its part, remains unwavering in its will to retaliate, fueling the likelihood of a vicious cycle of reprisals.

Most analysts say the US-Iran nuclear talks are already off the table as the clashes—sparked by Israel’s massive airstrike on the 13th—have dragged on for three days. The sixth round of nuclear negotiations scheduled for that day had already been canceled. In particular, Iran sees the recent preemptive strikes by Israel as having been effectively condoned or overlooked by the US, further dimming prospects for renewed dialogue.

On the night of the 14th, Israel focused its attacks on Iran’s energy facilities and struck key sites such as the Ministry of Defense and defense research centers. Iran retaliated by launching missiles at multiple locations inside Israel, escalating the conflict and causing mounting civilian casualties on both sides.

Experts warn that this conflict may be prolonged. According to US media, Israel’s operation against Iran could continue for weeks, and officials suggest the Trump administration is not expressing opposition to this development.

Soo-bin Park, Hankyung.com Reporter waterbean@hankyung.com