“We don’t have the faintest idea what is going to happen because it doesn’t seem the U.S. actually knows,” said Tomas Valasek, director of Carnegie Europe and a former Slovak envoy to NATO. “Trump doesn’t seem to know what he wants.””
“By week’s end, the president who repeatedly criticized the Obama administration for “telegraphing” its military intentions was openly trying to dial back tensions, saying he hopes there isn’t a conflict and repeating his interest in having direct talks with the leaders in Tehran. White House officials briefing reporters on Friday say they ’re “sitting by the phone” waiting for Iranian officials to call.