Israel has initiated military strikes against Iran early Friday morning, focusing on key elements of Iran's nuclear program and its long-range missile capabilities, according to an official from the Israeli military. For live updates on this developing situation, please follow our coverage here.
In a striking statement, former President Donald Trump warned Iran to agree to a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left.” His comments, made via social media, suggested that subsequent Israeli attacks on Iran would be “even more brutal.” This marked Trump’s first public reaction following the Israeli strikes, which specifically targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership.
Trump expressed his frustration, stating that he had provided Iranian leaders with multiple opportunities to engage in diplomatic talks, but they failed to seize those chances, leading to significant consequences. “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. 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,” he wrote.
In a more alarming tone, Trump declared that Iranian leaders “didn’t know what was about to happen,” adding ominously that “they are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!” He emphasized the urgency for Iran to negotiate, stating, “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.”
In stark contrast to Trump's aggressive rhetoric, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to clarify the United States' position regarding the Israeli military actions. In a statement released late Thursday, Rubio confirmed that the US had no role in the strikes against Iran, asserting, “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.”
Earlier on Thursday, Trump hinted at the potential for “massive conflict” in the Middle East, suggesting that such a situation could arise “soon.” Concerns among US officials escalated following Iran's announcement that it would increase its nuclear activities, a move prompted by a recent resolution from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicating that Iran was not complying with its non-proliferation commitments.
Responding to questions about a possible military strike on Iran, Trump acknowledged the likelihood, saying it “could very well happen.” He refrained from labeling the situation as imminent but emphasized the serious nature of the threat. “I don’t want to say imminent, but it’s something that could very well happen,” he told reporters at the White House.
This week, US embassies across the Middle East conducted emergency assessments to evaluate the escalating threat environment, a process that is still ongoing. When asked about the communications from Israeli officials that influenced the decision to evacuate US personnel from the region, Trump remarked, “They didn’t tell me anything, but I said look, there’s a chance of massive conflict.”
Trump elaborated on the reasoning behind the evacuation, stating, “We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, look, we gotta tell them to get out because something could happen – soon. And I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings.” He acknowledged the difficult choice he faced but concluded that prioritizing lives was essential.
Later on Thursday, Trump reiterated his preference for a diplomatic approach to the Iranian situation on his social media platform, asserting that his administration remains “committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!” He expressed hope for an agreement, indicating that negotiations for a potential nuclear deal are set to continue, with a sixth round of talks scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
“I want to have an agreement with Iran. We’re fairly close to an agreement. … As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them going in because that would blow it. Might help it, actually, but also could blow it,” he stated when discussing the possibility of an Israeli military strike.
This evolving story will be updated with new information as it becomes available. CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
