Iran says nuclear talks 'meaningless' after Israeli strike, despite Trump offer of 'second chance'
US President Donald Trump has framed the volatile moment in the Middle East as a possible "second chance' for Iran's leadership to avoid further destruction "before there is nothing left and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.' However, an Iranian spokesperson later called nuclear talks with the US "meaningless" after Israel's barrage of strikes on the country.
Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that he had given Iran a "60 day ultimatum to make a deal", and that Friday marked "day 61."
The White House has insisted that Washington was not involved in Israel's military operation, although anonymous US officials have said the Trump administration was aware in advance of Israel's planned large-scale attacks on Iran.
In an interview with ABC News on Friday morning, Trump said the Israeli attack on Iran was 'excellent' and again previewed more attacks to come.
'We gave them a chance and they didn't take it,' Trump told ABC's Jon Karl. 'They got hit hard, very hard. They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come. A lot more.'
The US president pressed on Iran as he met his national security team in the Situation Room on Friday to discuss the tricky path forward following Israel's devastating strikes, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to keep up for 'as many days as it takes' to decapitate Iran's nuclear programme.
While the White House said it had no involvement in the strikes, Trump highlighted that Israel used its deep arsenal of weaponry provided by the US to target Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz and the country's ballistic missile program, as well as top nuclear scientists and officials.
In the aftermath of the Israeli strikes, the US is shifting its military resources, including ships, in the Middle East as it looks to guard against possible retaliatory attacks by Tehran, according to two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to begin sailing toward the Eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward, so it can be available if requested by the White House.
As Israel stepped up planning for strikes in recent weeks, Iran had signalled the United States would be held responsible in the event of an Israeli attack. The warning was issued by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even as he engaged in talks with Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
Friday's strikes came as Trump planned to dispatch Witkoff to Oman on Sunday for the next round of talks with the Iranian foreign minister.
Witkoff still plans to go to Oman this weekend for talks on Tehran's nuclear program, but it's unclear if the Iranians will participate, according to US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic discussions.
Trump also spoke Friday with British Prime Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron about the evolving situation, as well as Netanyahu.
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And during a brief round of fighting with Iran last year, Israel knocked out much of its enemies' air-defense systems. With Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' in tatters and Iran unable to defend itself against Israel's air force, there was little to deter Israel from taking action this week. Trump provided the final piece of the puzzle. After surprising Israel earlier this year with his resumption of nuclear talks with Iran, Trump grew frustrated with the lack of progress in those talks. Notified about the Israeli plans, the U.S. president appears to have put up little resistance, creating a rare window of opportunity for Israel. Will Netanyahu succeed? It is too early to say. The Israeli operation appears to have gotten off to a smooth start – with Israel striking dozens of targets and killing senior Iranian military figures. But it remains unclear how much damage Israel has inflicted on Iran's nuclear program. 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Why is success so important for Netanyahu? After a record-setting tenure in office, Netanyahu has a complicated legacy. He is the object of affection and adoration among his supporters who see him as a wily politician and distinguished statesman. But he is intensely disdained by his many detractors, who see him as a divisive and populist cynic. Few on either side would disagree that his legacy has been permanently tarnished by the Oct. 7 attacks, the deadliest day in Israel's history. Netanyahu now sees an opportunity to reshape that legacy once again and go down in history as the man who saved his country from nuclear annihilation, not the prime minister who presided over its darkest moment.
