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- Trump earlier told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before it happened
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier Thursday that the United States was 鈥渘ot involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region鈥�
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump urged Iran on Friday to 鈥渕ake a deal,鈥� warning that there will be more 鈥渄eath and destruction鈥� after Israel launched deadly strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
His comments on his Truth Social platform came after Israel pounded Iran in a series of air raids on Friday, striking 100 targets.
The operation killed senior figures 鈥� among them the armed forces chief and top nuclear scientists 鈥� and Iran has called Israel鈥檚 wave of strikes a 鈥渄eclaration of war.鈥�
On Friday morning, Trump said: 鈥淚 gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal.鈥�
He added that Israel 鈥� which Trump has aligned Washington to since his return to the White House 鈥� has a lot of weapons thanks to the United States and 鈥渢hey know how to use it.鈥�
鈥淭here 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,鈥� Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
鈥淚ran must make a deal, before there is nothing left... JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,鈥� he said.
Trump earlier told Fox News he had been made aware of the Israeli strikes before they happened, and stressed that Tehran 鈥渃annot have a nuclear bomb,鈥� the US broadcaster said.
He also said that 鈥渨e are hoping to get back to the negotiating table,鈥� according to Fox News.
During Trump鈥檚 first term, he pulled the United States out of a landmark agreement to relieve sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
Fox News also reported that Trump鈥檚 administration reached out to at least one key Middle Eastern ally to acknowledge that the strike was going to happen, but said the United States was not involved.
鈥淭rump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates,鈥� Fox News said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier Thursday that the United States was 鈥渘ot involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.鈥�
鈥淟et me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel.鈥�
Trump will be attending a National Security Council meeting Friday morning.