Curt Mills on Trump's Iran Negotiations: A Political 'Fake-Out'

Axios Report on Trump's Iran Stance

• 📰 Axios reported that two Israeli officials claimed Trump and his aides publicly feigned opposition to an Israeli attack on Iran.
• 💡 The alleged goal was to deceive Iran into believing no attack was imminent, preventing them from relocating targets.
• 🎭 Israeli officials suggest Netanyahu's team briefed reporters that Trump opposed the strike, when in reality the call was for coordination.

Mills' Skepticism and Nuance

• 🤔 Curt Mills expresses caution due to the report's reliance on single-country sources (Israeli officials) without U.S. corroboration.
• ⚠️ He notes discrepancies between the administration's initial statements of non-involvement and Trump's later, more ambiguous remarks.
• 🧐 Mills hesitates to definitively conclude coordination, citing Trump's usual tendency for open communication, contrasting with such a secretive operation.

Trump's Past Statements and Iran Policy

• 🗣️ A past clip shows Trump stating that if Iran were to be bombed, the focus should be on nuclear sites.
• 🎯 Mills acknowledges Trump's consistent stance against Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, despite other foreign policy deviations.
• 🤝 The discussion touches on Trump's past actions, like the assassination of Soleimani, and his relationship with Netanyahu, indicating he's not averse to military action.

The Core Question of Coordination

• ❓ The central debate revolves around the extent of Trump's coordination with Israel on the strike.
• 📈 While it's undisputed that Trump did not prevent the strike and has a history of strong rhetoric against Iran, the evidence for days of active, deceptive coordination is deemed insufficient by Mills.
• 🧐 Mills emphasizes the need for more U.S. sourcing before drawing firm conclusions about the nature of Trump's involvement.