Trump launches ‘Board of Peace’ with world leaders, indicates military action in Iran will be decided within days

President Donald Trump pledged $10 billion in U.S. funding to the Board of Peace and indicated a decision on military action in Iran would be made within 10 days at the board’s inaugural meeting Thursday.

The meeting, which the White House said included representatives from more than 40 countries, is aimed at securing lasting peace in the Middle East following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas last year. The board’s first meeting took place in the recently renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.

“With determined leadership nothing is impossible. When I took office the war in Gaza was raging with thousands of people being killed and no end in sight,” Trump told the board. Now, he added, “the war in Gaza is over.”

Trump said there are still “little flames” with Hamas and warned that the group will be “harshly met” if it doesn’t give up its weapons. He credited his ceasefire deal with returning “every last remaining hostage,” both living and dead. He also credited the U.S. and partners for facilitating “vast amounts of humanitarian aid” to the region since the ceasefire deal.

Trump said the board, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in November as part of the president’s plan for peace in Gaza, will be working closely with the United Nations going forward.

“The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” he said, noting that it would “strengthen up the United Nations” and ensure that it is viable.

Trump told world leaders that the U.S. would commit $10 billion in funding towards the peace board, and announced commitments of more than $7 billion toward the Gaza relief package from member states including Azerbaijan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. 

A number of European countries have declined to become members of the board, including Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Vatican this week also declined an invitation to the board, citing concerns, including that the United Nations should handle crisis situations.

Addressing member nations on Thursday, Trump pivoted to remaining challenges in the Middle East.

“I’ve always heard peace in the Middle East is impossible. And it turned out not to be,” he said. “And we do have some work to do with Iran. They can’t have a nuclear weapon; it’s very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon,” he said, noting that he will likely decide within “10 days” whether the U.S. will take further military action in Iran. 

Speaking to reporters several hours later aboard Air Force One, Trump doubled down that he will decide within days about striking Iran. 

“We’re going to get a deal one way or the other,” he said of Iran. “We’re either going to get a deal or it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”

Photo credit: The White House