Is Donald Trump about to put the US at war with Iran?

Jun 18, 2025

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Trump weighing the implications of military involvement. The hosts recount their experiences at the G7 summit, where Trump's unpredictable behavior shaped international diplomacy. They explore the conflicting messages from the Trump administration on foreign policy and the potential implications for future military action. Political uncertainty looms as Republican divisions emerge around Trump’s foreign strategies, making listeners question what might come next.

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INSIGHT

Trump's Escalating Threats to Iran

Donald Trump is publicly escalating threats against Iran, demanding unconditional surrender and hinting at possible military action.
Iran's Supreme Leader warned any US involvement would cause irreparable harm, signaling high stakes for a new Middle East conflict.

ANECDOTE

Trump Cuts G7 Short for Crisis

Donald Trump unexpectedly cut short his G7 summit in Canada to fly back to Washington amid Middle East tensions.
The announcement prompted a mad scramble among journalists and officials trying to understand the urgent change in plans.

INSIGHT

Trump's America First vs Iran Threat

Trump's "America First" stance has conflicted with increased willingness to consider military action against Iran's nuclear program.
His administration insists Iran must never get nuclear weapons, despite prior reluctance to engage militarily.

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Donald Trump is considering how far the United States should go in joining Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Sarah and Anthony - who were both at the G7 summit in Canada on Monday, with Anthony travelling on Air Force One with Trump - discuss whether the U.S. is on the brink of another Middle East war.

The president held an emergency Situation Room meeting at the White House in which his national security team discussed how far the U.S. should be involved. One of the big targets would be the uranium enrichment site at Fordo that is deep underground.

Donald Trump has already called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” following Israel’s strikes but Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US military involvement will be met with “irreparable harm”.

Does the president have support from the American public and what might happen next?

HOSTS: * Sarah Smith, North America Editor * Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: * Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB * Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 * Email Americast@bbc.co.uk * Or use #Americast

This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was James Piper. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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