Trump tells Iran to make deal after Israel blasts nuclear and military targets

Israel launched a barrage of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories and killed a swathe of military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel’s main ally, suggested that Iran had brought the attack on itself by resisting a U.S. ultimatum in talks to restrict its nuclear programme.

“I think it’s been excellent. We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it … They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come. A lot more,” he said in a recorded interview.

“Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’,” Trump added in a post. “They should have done it! Today is day 61 … Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”

Washington said it had no part in the operation.

Iran promised a harsh response to the overnight onslaught, which killed the heads of both its armed forces and the powerful Revolutionary Guards. Israel said about 100 drones had been launched toward Israeli territory in retaliation.

Around 0800 GMT, an order to Israeli citizens to remain near protected areas was lifted, suggesting that most or all of the drones had been intercepted.

In a televised message, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Iranians to stand by their leaders and said a powerful response “will make Israel regret its foolish act”.

The price of crude leapt around 8% on fears of wider retaliatory attacks across the oil-producing region. The national Iranian oil company said refining and storage facilities had not been damaged and continued to operate.

An Israeli security source said Mossad commandos had been operating deep inside Iran before the attack, and that the Israeli spy agency and military had mounted covert operations against Iran’s strategic missile array. Israel also established an attack-drone base near Tehran, the source added.

The military said it had bombarded Iran’s air defences, destroying “dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers”.

Iran said several top commanders and six nuclear scientists had been killed, including the armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami. At least 20 senior commanders were killed, two regional sources said. The head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was also reported among them.

Iranian Nuclear Enrichment Plant Reportedly Damaged
Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz suffered significant damage, according to Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin. Defrin said 200 Israeli fighter jets took part in the strikes, hitting more than 100 targets. He noted the military was executing a phased attack plan that could be lengthy.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, justified the strikes by invoking the Holocaust, describing the operation as a step to protect Israel from an existential threat.

Just before 6 a.m. Washington time, Trump posted:
“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. 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. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left…”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel had “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand and would suffer “a bitter fate”.

Since war erupted in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has severely weakened Iran’s allies by targeting Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Airlines diverted or cancelled flights across Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan. Israeli airlines moved planes out of Israel, and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut. Dubai-based Emirates also cancelled flights.

Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said tens of thousands of soldiers had been called up and deployed across all borders.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for de-escalation, accusing Israel of violating international law.

Iran’s armed forces spokesperson accused Washington of supporting the strikes, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied involvement, saying Israel had acted unilaterally in self-defence.

U.S. officials said any new nuclear deal must include a commitment by Iran to scrap uranium enrichment. The Islamic Republic maintains its programme is for civilian use only.

Nuclear Talks with Iran Due on Sunday
The IAEA’s Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Iran, a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, responded that Israel’s “cowardly” attack proves the necessity of its missile and nuclear programs.

Some Iranian citizens opposed to clerical rule expressed hope the attack might lead to change. One Tehran resident said, “We can’t afford not to respond. Either we surrender and they take our missiles, or we fire them.”

Israel said new intelligence had shown Iran nearing the threshold of developing a nuclear weapon. However, a U.S. source said there was no change in the intelligence assessment that Iran’s nuclear weapons programme remains halted since 2003.

Trump was convening his National Security Council Friday morning. He had said on Thursday that an Israeli strike “could very well happen” but reiterated hope for a peaceful resolution.

U.S. and Iranian officials are due to hold a sixth round of nuclear talks in Oman on Sunday.

Credit: Reuters