By Reagan Reese

Written by Reagan Reese

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

President Donald Trump broke his silence after Israel bombed Iran on Thursday night, talking to Fox News’ Bret Baier and then releasing several Truth Social statements.

Israeli forces launched major strikes against Iran on Thursday, targeting Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian state media confirmed that Israel killed the top Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander in major airstrikes targeting Iran, Reuters reported. After the White House indicated late Thursday night that Trump wouldn’t make a public appearance, the president first commented on the strikes, telling Baier that they were aware of the strikes ahead of time but that the United States was not involved.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” Trump told Baier, adding that the United States would defend itself and Israel if Iran strikes back.

Trump added that the goal was still to get Iran back to the negotiating table.

Israeli officials are claiming that they had a “clear green light” from the United States to strike Iran, Axios reported, noting that American officials have not confirmed these details. Leading up to the attack, Trump was only “pretending” to be opposed to the strike, two Israeli officials claimed to Axios.

 

Following the strike, the White House released a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio distancing the U.S. from the attack.

“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio wrote.

“Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” the statement continued.

 

The president took to Truth Social on Friday to issue a more direct warning to Iran, saying that there are more attacks planned by Israel.

“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen,” Trump wrote of the nuclear deal his administration tried to negotiate with Iran. “They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! 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, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!” Trump added.

In a second Truth Social post, Trump said he gave Iran 60 days to make a deal with the U.S. and that on Friday the deadline had passed.

“Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!” Trump wrote.

Over the last 60 days, talks with Iran had been slow to develop as Tehran indicated that it was committed to having civilian-grade enrichment. Trump previously stated that Iran would not be able to enrich uranium under any prospective deal with the U.S.

Shortly after beginning its attacks Thursday on Iran, Israel Defense Forces released a statement about its strike. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a special state of emergency for all of Israel on Thursday night, Axios reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously indicated that the country’s mission to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities could take several days, while other officials said it could take weeks, according to Axios.

In its first round of attacks, Israel attempted to assassinate nuclear scientists that they believe know how to create a nuclear bomb, the outlet reported. About 25 were targeted and two are confirmed dead at the time of Axios publishing its article.

In addition to air strikes, Israel’s Mossad intelligence service had operatives on the ground working on secret sabotage operations on Iran’s missile and air defense sites, according to Axios.

“Dozens of [Israeli Air Force] jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran,” the IDF stated.

“Today, Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world,” the statement continued. “The State of Israel has no choice but to fulfill the obligation to act in defense of its citizens and will continue to do so everywhere it is required to do so, as we have done in the past.”

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This article was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation and is reproduced with permission.

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