On Friday (June 13), just minutes before heading to the situation room to participate in a strategic meeting on Iran, President Donald Trump stated that he believes Israel’s earlier large-scale attack on Iran may increase the chances of the US and Iran reaching a nuclear agreement.
Israeli warplanes launched a massive airstrike early Friday on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military bases, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami along with other senior commanders and multiple nuclear scientists.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retaliation against Israel. At the same time, he announced that Iran will no longer plan to participate in the sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled to be held in Oman on Sunday.
A US official mentioned that White House envoy Steve Witkoff is still preparing to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Sunday.
Trump hopes to bring Iran back to the negotiating table and believes Iran is now in a weakened position.
Before heading to the situation room, when asked if Israel’s attack jeopardizes US nuclear diplomacy, Trump told Axios: “I don’t think so. Maybe quite the opposite. Maybe now they (Iran) will negotiate seriously.”
“I gave Iran 60 days, today is the 61st day,” Trump continued, “They should have reached an agreement.”
The president stated he believes that after Israel’s devastating strike on Iran, Iran now has a stronger motivation to reach an agreement.
“I couldn’t get them to reach an agreement in 60 days. They were close, they should have reached an agreement. Maybe it will happen now,” Trump added.
Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, the first call since the attack occurred.
Netanyahu refused to provide details about the call and declined to comment on whether Netanyahu requested direct US involvement in the operation.
In a video on Friday, Netanyahu stated that he and senior adviser Ron Dermer had multiple phone calls and meetings with Trump and his team before the attack.
“As for the US position, I’ll leave it for the US to say,” Netanyahu said, adding that the Trump administration was aware of the attack plan beforehand.
“I told the president, the key to success is surprise,” he said.
“What are they going to do now? I leave that question to President Trump,” the Israeli Prime Minister said, emphasizing that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.
Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi stated on Friday that Iran’s nuclear program cannot be completely destroyed through military actions.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, he mentioned that military action can create conditions for a long-term US-led agreement to thoroughly prevent Iran’s nuclear program.
In a previous phone interview with Reuters on Friday, Trump stated he is not concerned about the outbreak of a regional war in the Middle East.
He said the US is “very informed” about Israel’s attack on Iran and added, “I’m trying to avoid Iran being humiliated and death.”
Trump also told Reuters that it is not too late for Iran to reach an agreement.
He mentioned that the US still plans to hold a meeting with Iranian officials on Sunday, although it’s uncertain if it will take place.
During an interview with NBC, Trump revealed that Iranian representatives have called him, expressing their desire to still reach an agreement.
“They missed their chance for an agreement. Now, they may have another chance. We will wait and see,” Trump told NBC.