On Friday, President Trump accused Iran of compelling Israel to act against its nuclear ambitions through a recent airstrike, while also urging Tehran to finalize a deal with “nothing left.”
Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social, noting he had repeatedly given Iran opportunities to come to an agreement. “I told them, in no uncertain terms, to ‘just do it.’ Still, no matter how close they got, it just never happened,” he said.
He added that Iran was unaware of the extent of US military capabilities, stating, “They thought they knew, but they were mistaken. The US has the most advanced military equipment, and Israel would continue to receive it.” He indicated that some hardliners in Iran were misguided in their expectations.
“They’re all dead, and it’s only going to get worse!” he declared.
Trump pointed out that significant loss of life had already occurred, but suggested there was still time for further devastation, claiming the next planned attack would be even harsher.
“Iran has to finalize a deal. There’s little left to negotiate, aside from what was once the Iranian Empire. You must act before it’s too late,” he asserted.
Earlier that day, Israel conducted an operation resulting in the deaths of at least two high-ranking military officials in Tehran, raising fears of a wider conflict between these longstanding adversaries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the “Lion Lion” operation, which aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the threat to Israel’s existence.
General Hossein Salami and military chief Mohammad Bagheli were reported killed in the strikes, along with two nuclear scientists, according to Iranian state media.
In retaliation, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel, following a warning of “severe punishment” from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel stated that the drones were intercepted outside its airspace, though it was unclear if any had gotten through.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration, which had cautioned Israel against military action amid ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program, distanced itself from the attack and stated it hadn’t alerted Israel against any potential retaliation targeting US entities or personnel.
