US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to agree to a nuclear deal with the United States “before it is too late,” warning that Israel’s recent missile strikes on the country and its nuclear facilities could escalate further.
The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Friday morning following the collapse of US-Iran nuclear negotiations and a censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – its first against Iran in over two decades – for Tehran’s lack of cooperation with inspectors.
Reports from Tehran confirmed that loud explosions were heard in the northeastern region of the capital in the early hours. Iran responded by suspending all flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport, the city’s main aviation hub.
Israeli officials said the airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. However, images circulating online showed significant damage in residential areas, raising concerns about civilian casualties.
Among the targets hit were major nuclear facilities and missile sites. The strikes reportedly killed three senior military commanders, including Hossein Salami, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, as well as six nuclear scientists.
While Israel insists the offensive is a response to the threats posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are intended solely for peaceful energy purposes.
In his first public reaction to the strike, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that he had tried to prevent the violence through diplomacy but was met with resistance from Tehran.
“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it.’ But no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” he wrote.
Trump claimed he had warned Iran of the consequences, stressing the superior capabilities of US and Israeli military equipment. “Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”
He warned that further attacks were already planned and could be even more devastating unless Iran agrees to negotiate.
“There is still time to make this slaughter end. Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left—before the last remnant of what was once the great Iranian Empire is destroyed. No more death, no more destruction. JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump said.
Although the strikes were widely interpreted as caoordinated with American interests, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States had no involvement in the Israeli assault. Trump also reiterated that he had advised Israel not to strike while diplomatic talks were ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government has vowed to retaliate. Military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi declared that both Israel and the United States would “pay a heavy price” for the deadly airstrikes.
