CNN's Dana Bash doesn't see the funny side of Trump's brutal truth bomb about Iran
President Donald Trump shared a moment of dark humor with CNN host Dana Bash when she asked about slain military leaders in Iran.
Trump urged the Iranians to ' come to the table to make a deal before it's too late' and pointed out that those who were advocating against a nuclear deal with the United States were now dead.
'You know the people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners,' he said, according to Bash.
Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's commander in chief of the military was killed in the initial Israeli military strikes as well as Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Gholamali Rashid and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
When Bash asked if their deaths were the result of Israel 's attack last night, Trump replied sarcastically, 'They didn't die of the flu - they didn't die of Covid.'
Bash appeared on CNN to share details of her conversation but did not react to Trump's comment and said the president said it 'quite sarcastically.'
Trump repeated his call for negotiations in a post on social media.
'Certain Iranian hardliner's spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!' he wrote.
The president noted the 'great death and destruction,' from the attacks but warned that future attacks would be 'even more brutal.'
He reminded Iranians that he gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to make a deal but they refused.
'They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn't get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!' he wrote.
Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier Thursday evening he was aware of the pending Israeli strikes before they took place, but did not intervene to stop them.
'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We'll hopefully get back to the negotiating table,' Trump said. 'There are several people in leadership in Iran who will not be coming back.'
Trump defended his reaction to Israel's strikes telling Axios on Friday that he did not expect the attacks to disrupted his diplomatic efforts with Iran.
'I don't think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously,' he said, calling it a 'a big day.'
A senior administration official told Axios that Trump did not want Israel to attack Iran.
'We told this to the Israelis publicly and privately ahead of the strike,' the White House official said.
On Thursday, Trump wrote on social media that the United States was 'committed' to making a deal.
'We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran,' he wrote.
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Sky News
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Israel-Iran live: Iran warns strikes 'will spread to US bases' after retaliatory attack on Israel; '60 killed' in Tehran
Iranian state TV says 20 children are among 60 killed in Tehran, while deaths and dozens of injuries have been reported in Israel after Iran struck overnight. Watch how Iran's retaliatory attack unfolded and follow the latest updates below. 09:40:01 Israeli attacks likely to unite Iranian people behind leaders, says former British diplomat It's unlikely Iran's population will want to see regime change as a result of Israeli attacks. That's the view of Lord Ricketts, a former British diplomat who served as the UK's first national security adviser between 2010 ad 2012. While the regime is "very unpopular" in Iran, he said the immediate impact of Israel's strikes may boost those in power. "Clearly, Netanyahu and many people in Israel would love to see the back of the mullahs and the ayatollahs, and they are very unpopular in Iran," he said. "My question is, would they want to see the regime change because of this attack from Israel? I rather doubt that. "I think the short-term effect will be rather to bring the population behind the leaders in the circumstances of a massive attack on the country in that time." 09:19:13 Around 60 people killed in Israeli attack, including 20 children - Iranian state TV According to Iranian state TV, 20 children are among 60 people killed in an Israeli attack. The report says the strike was on a housing complex in the capital, Tehran. 09:11:01 More details on two people killed in central Israel We have some more information to bring you now on reports of an Iranian attack on the central city of Rishon Lezion. Two people were killed, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom, and 19 injured (see our 5.40am post). MDA has confirmed a man aged around 45 and a woman around 60 were the two who died. "A woman around 60 was rescued without signs of life, a man around 45 was evacuated in critical condition while undergoing CPR and was later pronounced dead," the service said. Of the 19 hurt in the attack, 16 have minor injuries, two have been moderately injured and one has a serious injury, MDA added. "This was a difficult and complex scene, and we are continuing to search to ensure no one remains trapped," the service said. 08:53:01 'Limited damage' to nuclear facility, Iran says Iran says its Fordow nuclear facility sustained "limited damage" during Israeli attacks. In comments reported by semi-official ISNA news agency this morning, a spokesperson for the country's atomic energy organisation said: "There has been limited damage to some areas at the Fordow enrichment site. "We had already moved a significant part of the equipment and materials out, and there was no extensive damage and there are no contamination concerns." Sky News verified sites struck by Israel as of last night, which you can see below. 08:16:01 In pictures: Rubble in Israeli city after Iranian attack This is the scene in Ramat Gan, a city in the Tel Aviv district, following an Iranian attack there. Several buildings were struck, including an apartment block in a residential neighbourhood. 08:01:33 Iran warns strikes will continue - and conflict will 'spread' to US bases Iran's Fars news agency reports senior military officials have warned strikes on Israel will continue. They are also quoted as saying the conflict will spread to US bases in the region over the coming days. "This confrontation will not end with last night's limited actions and Iran's strikes will continue," Fars cited an unnamed official as saying. "And this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors." 07:59:55 Drones shot down in latest attacks, says Israel Following alerts sounded in Israel earlier this morning - see our 6.34am post - the military has provided an update. Reporting incoming drone attacks, the IDF has said two were shot down in the Upper Galilee area, in northern Israel. More alerts were activated over concerns around falling fragments. In a separate wave, Israel said it downed a "number" of drones in the Judea and Dead Sea areas. 07:28:54 Israel claims 'dozens' of jets flew over Tehran In a statement released in the past few minutes, Israel's air force commander has said its planes hit targets in the Iranian capital overnight. Major General Tomer Bar said Israel attacked "hundreds of targets", including anti-aircraft equipment. "We carried out a wave of precise strikes of operational and national significance over the skies of Tehran," he said, adding "dozens" of Israeli jets flew over the capital. "We chose to act in the face of an existential threat to the security of our citizens, with professionalism, determination and precision," he said. "The air force will continue to operate in all arenas, both defensively and offensively."
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Iran-Israel conflict
Iran-Israel conflict The latest breaking news and updates on the conflict between Iran and Israel, with strikes on both sides intensifying in recent months.
Metro
an hour ago
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Iran threatens to strike US bases in vow to continue retaliatory blitz on Israel
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Iran retaliates with 200 ballistic missiles and barrage of drones Strikes between both enemies still ongoing after night of terror 78 people killed in Iran, while three people killed in Israel Fears America and Gulf nations will get dragged in fighting Fears are rising that the Middle East is teetering on the edge of an all-out war as strikes between Israel and Iran continue to escalate – with now US military bases becoming potential targets. Longtime adversaries, Israel and Iran, unleashed a barrage after a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, with explosions slamming into Jerusalem, Tel Aviv ,Tehran and Zanjan. In Iran, more than 78 people have been killed, including including four of its top security chiefs, and 320 wounded, most of them civilians. Three people died in Israel, with dozens more injured in Iranian strikes. Pillars of black smoke rose from military sites and residential areas across both countries after a night of relentless bombardments. This could be the start of a prolonged military campaign as neither side is showing any inclination to end the fighting – despite international calls for de-escalation. There are fears that the US – where Donald Trump has been congratulating Israel for the 'excellent' attacks – and Gulf nations will be dragged into the conflict. Iran's Fars news agency reported that senior military officials have warned that the conflict will spread to US bases over the coming days. 'This confrontation will not end with last night's limited actions and Iran's strikes will continue,' Fars cited an unnamed official as saying. 'And this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors.' Shahram Akbarzadeh, the director of the Middle East Studies Forum at the Alfred Deakin Institute, warned there are 'more attacks to come' as Israel and Iran 'settle in for the long haul'. 'There is every chance this could spread out to the whole region and draw in the US,' he told Al Jazeera. 'Israel is actually banking on this dynamic that once a conflict starts, the US has an obligation and commitment to Israeli security. 'So the US will be dragged into the conflict.' Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.' It was just hours after that Iran launched waves of missiles at Israel late Friday and early today. Iranians awoke to state television airing repeated clips of strikes on Israel, as well as videos of people cheering and handing out sweets. Meanwhile, Israel's military said more drones had been intercepted near the Dead Sea in the early hours of this morning. More Trending A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage; all but one of them had light injuries. Israel's Fire and Rescue Services said they were wounded when a projectile hit a building in the city. A spokesperson for Beilinson Hospital said one woman was killed. Hours later, an Iranian missile struck near homes in the central city of Rishon Lezion, killing two more people and wounding 19, according to Israel's paramedic service Magen David Adom. Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defence systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Lonely Planet co-founder reveals three more countries 'not to visit' MORE: Israeli Mossad agents 'infiltrate heart of Iran with special-made weapons' MORE: Iran vs Israel: who has the strongest military?
