US President Donald Trump has stated that an Israeli strike on Iran “could very well happen,” while a senior Israeli official informed the Wall Street Journal that such an action might occur as early as Sunday unless Iran agrees to cease its production of materials for an atomic bomb.
This development has heightened concerns that such a strike could trigger a regional war and provoke retaliatory actions from Iran.
Mr. Trump emphasized his desire for a peaceful resolution to the current tensions.
“We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.
US President Donald Trump has mentioned he still seeks a ‘diplomatic resolution’ to the standoff.
Tensions have escalated in the region as Mr. Trump’s attempts to secure a nuclear agreement with Iran appear to have stagnated.
US intelligence suggests that Israel has been making strides toward preparing for a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Officials from both the US and Iran are set to engage in a sixth round of talks in Oman on Sunday regarding Iran’s intensifying uranium enrichment program, according to representatives from both nations and their Omani mediators.
Breach of non-proliferation obligations
Previously, the UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors declared that Iran had violated its non-proliferation obligations, prompting Iran to announce countermeasures.
A senior Iranian official indicated that a “friendly country” had alerted it to a possible Israeli assault.
Security concerns have escalated since Mr. Trump stated yesterday that American personnel were being relocated from the region due to “it could be a dangerous place,” asserting that Iran would not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon.
Despite Mr. Trump’s recent caution to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a strike while US diplomacy continues with Iran, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed worry that Israel may act militarily against Iran in the upcoming days.
According to the Journal, Mr. Netanyahu discussed the potential for strikes with Mr. Trump during a phone call on Monday, citing two US officials.
“I don’t want to say imminent, but it seems like it’s something that could very well happen,” Mr. Trump told reporters at a White House event, reiterating that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“I’d love to avoid the conflict,” he stated. “Iran’s going to have to negotiate a little bit tougher, meaning they’re going to have to offer us something they’re not prepared to give us right now.”
Security in the Middle East has already been exacerbated by the spillover effects of Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Mr. Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if the nuclear negotiations fail to produce a deal and expressed growing skepticism that Iran will agree to halt its uranium enrichment activities.
Iran seeks the lifting of US sanctions that have been imposed since 2018.
Earlier, Mr. Trump voiced his frustration over rising oil prices attributed to supply concerns related to potential conflict in the Middle East.
With the US providing minimal explanations for its security apprehensions, several foreign diplomats speculated that the evacuation of personnel and US officials anonymously hinting at an Israeli attack could serve as a tactic to increase pressure on Iran for concessions in negotiations.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the current tensions aim to “influence Tehran to adjust its stance regarding its nuclear rights” during the discussions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked that even if the country’s nuclear facilities were bombed, they would ultimately be rebuilt, according to state media reports.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors declared Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in nearly 20 years, which increases the likelihood of reporting the issue to the UN Security Council.
This action marks the culmination of a series of confrontations between the IAEA and Iran since Mr. Trump withdrew the US from a nuclear deal involving Iran and major powers in 2018, after which the agreement fell apart.
An IAEA official stated that Iran had responded to the 35-member board’s announcement by notifying the UN watchdog of its intention to open a third uranium enrichment plant.
