President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Iran, urging them to agree to a nuclear deal to avoid further “planned attacks,” stating that while “there has already been great death and destruction,” there’s still time to prevent further bloodshed.
Trump addressed the situation on his social media platform, Truth Social, Friday morning, following reports of Israel’s overnight attack on Iran, which targeted several nuclear and military sites.
Referring to the ongoing discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump mentioned he had offered Iran an opportunity to make an agreement.
“I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” . “Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse.”
Trump added that Iran was informed about “the United States making the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come. And they know how to use it.”
“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump cautioned.
The U.S. was not involved in the recent military action, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also urged Iran not to target the U.S.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” said Marco, . “President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
and nuclear scientists have been killed in the Israeli strikes, prompting to warn of a “severe punishment” and a “bitter, painful fate” for Israel.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement early Friday morning, local time.
“Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world,” the statement read. “The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Operation Rising Lion “will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Iran has responded with approximately 100 drone strikes on Israel, with Jordan confirming that drones also entered its airspace.
Before these events, talks between the U.S. and Israel seemed to be progressing positively after Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei, indicated Iran’s willingness to accept a deal under certain conditions.
Talks were ongoing as of early June. a U.S. proposal and offered a counter-offer on June 9. The following day, Iranian lawmakers accused the U.S. of turning negotiation talks into a trap.
“The U.S. is not serious in negotiations at all. It has set the goal of talks as imposing its demands and has adopted offensive positions that are diametrically opposed to Iranians’ inalienable rights,” Iranian lawmakers .
Now, with Israel and Iran exchanging strikes, world leaders are monitoring the situation in the Middle East and urging de-escalation.
A has relayed his concerns.
Guterres “condemns any military escalation in the Middle East” and “is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran, while talks between Iran and the U.S. on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme are underway.”
Another round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. but it remains to be seen if those will go ahead, now that Israel and Iran are engaged in military action.
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