U.S. President says he spoke with Putin about conflict; denies U.S. military role in Israeli operations.

Washington, D.C., June 16, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Sunday, as the escalating conflict enters its fourth day with rising civilian casualties on both sides.

Trump confirmed that the United States is not involved in Israel’s ongoing military strikes against Iran, despite reports suggesting that Israeli officials had lobbied Washington to participate in operations targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“I hope both sides will come to their senses soon,” Trump said during a brief press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “This is a very dangerous situation, but the United States is not currently involved militarily.”

Trump also revealed he held a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, in which the Israel–Iran conflict was a key topic. The former president said both leaders agreed that regional escalation must be prevented and emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions.

His remarks come as global leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canada’s Prime Minister Sophie Trudeau, call for immediate de-escalation and humanitarian protections amid reports of civilian deaths in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Tehran.