Israel-Iran live: Trump responds to reports of attack plan - as Iran denies striking hospital
Donald Trump has rubbished reports he approved attack plans on Iran but is holding back on the final order. Meanwhile, Iran has denied attacking an Israeli hospital where dozens have been wounded. Follow the latest and listen to The World as you scroll.
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Glasgow Times
33 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (Evan Vucci/AP) On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Sir Keir Starmer has urged all sides to pursue a diplomatic solution (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump names final deadline before launching attack on Iran but Israel says it ‘won't wait' for US to hit nuclear plant
DONALD Trump has given Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a final two-week deadline to strike a nuclear deal or face 'grave consequences' from US strikes. The president is said to have privately approved plans for bombing Iran's key nuclear site, but was waiting for Tehran to come back to the negotiating table. yesterday. Trump said he "may" join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: "I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do." But the White House said today that the president will decide on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the "next two weeks". Citing a message from Trump, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' She reiterated claims that Iran is just "weeks away" from producing a nuclear weapon. She added: "Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. "All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon." Ms Leavitt said Trump wants to deal with things through diplomacy, but is 'unafraid' to take military action if necessary. She added: 'Nobody should be surprised by the President's position that Iran absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. He's been unequivocally clear about this for decades." However, Israel will not wait long for Trump's decision to strike Iran and could attack the Fordow Nuclear Plant itself, the country's Channel 12 media reports. It said that if Trump does not intervene, Israel will take the initiative to attack the enrichment facility, which is at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program. A daring special forces raid to obliterate the site is reportedly being considered Te; Aviv. But risks are huge and would be a challenge for even the Israel Defence Forces' battle-hardened elite troops. A ground attack on Fordow would be on a scale never before attempted and involve flying or parachuting in scores of troops and sabotage specialists. Israeli special forces conducted a similar raid last September when they destroyed an underground missile factory in Syria in two hours by planting and detonating explosives. Israel said its airstrikes on Iran will not stop until it destroys the regime's capability of enriching uranium to weapons-grade and making a nuclear weapon. If given the go-ahead by Trump, the US would join Israel in pounding Iran's nuke sites, which Tehran has warned would spark "all-out war". Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz branded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the "modern Hitler" who "should not continue to exist" while visiting the site of a missile strike near Tel Aviv.
North Wales Chronicle
43 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint
The US president said he was still hopeful of reaching a negotiated solution with Tehran and would decide on military action within two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. Quoting a message from the president, Ms Leavitt said: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.' On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he 'may' join Israeli strikes against Iran and its nuclear programme, but added: 'I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' On Thursday, the Prime Minister had urged him to step back from military action, saying there was a 'real risk of escalation'. Sir Keir said there had been 'several rounds of discussions with the US' and 'that, to me, is the way to resolve this issue'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy took the UK's plea for de-escalation to Washington, where he was expected to meet Mr Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio on Thursday evening. Mr Lammy's meeting comes amid speculation that US involvement could require using the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. Sir Keir has declined to comment on advice from Lord Hermer, but said the 'principle, the driving intent', was 'de-escalation'. It remains unclear whether the UK would join any US military action. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would 'in principle' support the US using Diego Garcia to strike Iran, while her shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the party would support UK involvement if it was deemed necessary. But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on the Government to publish Lord Hermer's advice, saying: 'The last thing we need is for the UK to be dragged into another illegal war in the Middle East by the US.' Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire, with the Israeli defence minister directly threatening the Iranian supreme leader after an attack damaged a major hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel Katz said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'should not continue to exist' if the military was to 'achieve all of its goals'. Israel also continued to attack Iran, striking the country's Arak heavy water reactor, part of Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far above the levels required for power stations. Amid the conflict, 22,000 tourists are seeking evacuation flights from Israel, according to the country's tourism ministry. The ministry's director-general, Danny Shachar, said the Israeli government was working to co-ordinate flights as part of its 'safe return' programme, originally intended for Israelis returning to the country from elsewhere. The UK Government has not said how many British nationals are in Israel, but has urged those in the country to register their presence with the embassy. Although the Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel and has evacuated the family members of embassy staff, it has not advised Britons to leave the country.
