US President Donald Trump on Friday called on Iran to make a deal over its nuclear programme, stating that time was still available to the country to stop any further war with Israel.
“There has already been tremendous death and devastation, but there is still time to end this slaughter, with the next soon-to-be-launched attacks being even worse, to end,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“Knowing Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left. JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he wrote.
In an earlier statement, Trump claimed to have advance notice of Israel’s aerial assaults against Iran, emphasizing that Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb” and expressing optimism for resuming diplomatic negotiations.
His comments followed a major Israeli attack overnight that struck more than 100 targets across Iran, including military and nuclear sites, causing deaths and injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Natanz nuclear facility was one of the targets.
Iranian sources stated that Israeli strikes killed Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri.
In response to the strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei labeled the Israeli operation a “crime” committed by “satanic, bloodstained hands.” He made it clear that Israel would face “a severe punishment” and that “the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces won’t let them go unpunished.
But Trump added that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb” and that the US was looking to return to the negotiating table.
He also reiterated US’ willingness to defend itself and Israel in case of retaliatory action by Iran. Although the Trump administration apparently warned a key Middle Eastern ally before the strikes, it maintained that it had no direct involvement.
