Trump Threatens Iran of 'Even More Brutal' Attacks

MTV Lebanon

a day ago

US President Donald Trump on Friday urged Iran to make a deal over its nuclear program, saying that there was still time for the country to prevent further conflict with Israel.
'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,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Israel launched strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it had targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of an operation to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear weapon.
The US gave Iran 'chance after chance' to make a deal, Trump added.
Earlier on Friday, the US president told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before they happened and stressed that Tehran 'cannot have a nuclear bomb,' according to the US broadcaster.
'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see,' Trump said, according to Fox News.
However, The United States has underlined that it was not involved in the Israeli action and warned Tehran not to attack its personnel or interests.
But Tehran said the United States would be 'responsible for consequences' as Israel's operation 'cannot have been carried out without the coordination and permission of the United States.'
Israel's operation struck at the 'heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program,' taking aim at the atomic facility in Natanz and nuclear scientists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
The operation against Iran will 'continue as many days as it takes,' Netanyahu said, adding in a later video statement that the initial strikes were 'very successful.'
Iran's Revolutionary Guards leader Hossein Salami and armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri were killed in the Israeli operation, said Iranian media.
Iranian state media said residential buildings in Tehran were hit as well, killing a number of civilians including women and children.
Air traffic was halted at Tehran's main international airport Imam Khomeini, while neighboring Iraq has also closed its airspace and suspended all flights at all airports, state media reported.
Israel declared a state of emergency, likewise closing its airspace, with Defence Minister Israel Katz anticipating retaliatory action from Tehran.
'Following the State of Israel's pre-emptive 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.
An Israeli military official added that the Israeli army believed that Iran had the ability to strike Israel 'any minute'.
'Might blow' deal
Oil prices surged 12 percent while stocks sank on the Israeli strikes, which came after Trump's warning of a 'massive conflict' in the region.
Trump had also said the United States was drawing down staff in the Middle East, after Iran threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out.
Trump said he believed a 'pretty good' deal on Iran's nuclear program was 'fairly close,' but said that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement.
The US leader did not disclose the details of a conversation on Monday with Netanyahu but said: 'I don't want them going in, because I think it would blow it.'
Trump quickly added: 'Might help it actually, but it also could blow it.'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran not to respond to Israeli strikes by hitting US bases, saying Washington was not involved.
'Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel,' Rubio said in a statement.
Prior to Friday's attack, Iran had threatened to hit US bases in the Middle East if conflict were to erupt.
'All its bases are within our reach, we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries,' Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said this week.
With the violence raising questions on whether a sixth round of talks planned between the US and Iran will still take place on Sunday in Oman, Trump said however that Washington is still 'hoping to get back to the negotiating table'.
Confirming Natanz among targets, the UN's nuclear watchdog said it was 'closely monitoring' the situation.
'The agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country,' International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said.