Israel considering military action against Iran in coming days: Sources
Israel is considering taking military action against Iran in the coming days, according to three sources familiar with the situation.
The sources were not aware of a specific U.S. role in an Israeli strike on Iran, though it is possible the U.S. could play a logistical role and share intelligence with Israel that could be used for such a strike.
The U.S. currently has planned nuclear talks with Iranian officials this weekend.
"Senior Advisor and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff plans to travel to Muscat on Sunday for a sixth round of talks with Iran," according to a source familiar with his plans. "Discussions are expected to be both direct and indirect, as in previous rounds."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday his country will continue to enrich uranium and vowed to rebuild facilities should they be destroyed, as tensions in the Middle East around a potential U.S.-Iran nuclear deal and a possible Israeli strike if there is no deal both hang in the balance.
"We will go our own way, and we will have the enrichment," Pezeshkian said during remarks in Ilam, a western province of Iran.
"We will build this country with these very young people. It's not like if, for example, someone bombs our place, that's the end of it. All this is in mind. Whatever they do, we will rebuild," Pezeshkian added.
ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston and Othon Leyva contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Israel considering military action against Iran in coming days: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
6 minutes ago
- New York Post
Leading Iranian nuclear scientist killed in Israel's strikes bragged he wasn't worried about assassination
A leading Iranian nuclear scientist killed in the unprecedented strikes by Israel had bragged just weeks ago that he wasn't worried about being assassinated — and would happily build nukes if asked. Fereydoon Abbasi, a former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran who survived a previous assassination attempt in 2010, was among several military leaders and scientists killed overnight as Israel struck the nation's terrifying nuclear program sites, Iran officials confirmed. In an interview last month, the scientist shrugged off a question about fears of being assassinated. Fereydoon Abbasi, killed in the airstrikes, said that if Iran asked him to build weapons, 'I would do it.' MEMRI 'What are we supposed to do about it?' he asked dismissively, saying his work on the nuclear program would live on with younger generations. Abbasi, a hardliner who also served as a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024, also said he would happily help build weapons if asked. 'So far, we have not received orders to build [a nuclear bomb]. If they tell me to build it, I will do it,' he told Iran outlet SNN, the Middle East Media Research Institute reported. 'It is a mistake to set a time frame, whether six months, a month, a year, or a day,' he said about the timeline for building a nuclear weapon. 'Once the decision is made, you will need to make some small changes. If you work with uranium, you will need 90% enriched uranium. This level of enrichment can be achieved by laser, by electromagnetism, or by centrifuges.' If Iran's nuclear infrastructure were destroyed, Abbasi said 'nothing would happen.' President Masoud Pezeshkian (second right) listens to Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami as he visits an exhibition of Iran's nuclear achievements in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2025 AP 'Our capabilities are spread all over the country,' he said. 'If they target the production sites, it will be inconsequential to our timetable.'
6 minutes ago
Israel strike live updates: Trump says attack on Iran 'excellent' and says 'more to come'
Early Friday morning, local time, Israel launched dozens of strikes against Iran and declared a state of emergency, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Katz said in a statement. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv following the announcement. The U.S. did not provide any assistance or have any involvement in the Israeli strike, a U.S. official told ABC News.
Newsweek
7 minutes ago
- Newsweek
China Reacts to Israel's Attack on Iran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China said it is "deeply worried" by Israel's strikes on Iran and said it is willing to play a role in de-escalating the situation. Israel hit Iranian military and nuclear sites and killed a number of senior officials, including the commander-in-chief of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami. It said the operation is ongoing and could last days. Israel said the strikes were pre-emptive and to prevent a planned Iranian attack, and also to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb. "China is highly concerned about Israel's attacks on Iran and deeply worried about the potential serious consequences of these actions," said Lin Jian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, state media reported. Lin said China "opposes any violation of Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and opposes actions that escalate tensions and expand the conflict." "The renewed sharp escalation of the regional situation is not in the interest of any party," he continued. "China urges all relevant parties to do more to promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions. China is willing to play a constructive role in helping to de-escalate the situation." This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
