Iran ‘must make a deal before there is nothing left’: Trump

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump urged Iran on Friday to “make a deal”, warning that there will be more “death and destruction” after Israel launched deadly strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

“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 on his Truth Social platform.

“Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left... JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he said.

Earlier, Trump told Fox News he had advance knowledge of Israel’s air strikes on Iran, underscoring that Tehran “cannot have a nuclear bomb” and expressing hope for a return to diplomatic negotiations. Trump said that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb” and that the US was hoping to get back to the negotiating table. He also emphasised US’ readiness to defend itself and Israel in the event of Iranian retaliation. While the Trump administration reportedly informed a key Middle Eastern ally ahead of the strikes, it reiterated that the US was not directly involved.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this stance, stating, “We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.” He added a stern warning: “Iran should not target US interests or personnel.”

Trump, however, said on Truth Social on Friday that Israel had acted because a 60-day deadline that he had set for Iran had run out, implying that the two acted in concert. His boasts about the “finest” US equipment that Israel had used—a day before a huge parade in Washington on Trump´s 79th birthday featuring US aircraft and tanks—also muddied the waters.In an interview to Axios on Friday, Trump said that Israel used “great American equipment” during its attack on Iran. He said that Iran now has a stronger incentive to agree on a nuclear deal after Israel’s strikes, Axios reported. “I couldn’t get them to a deal in 60 days. They were close, they should have done it. Maybe now it will happen,” Axios quoted Trump as saying.