PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Israel launched significant military strikes on Iran, targeting nuclear sites and key officials.
👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian leadership.
📍 Where & When: Strikes occurred Thursday evening in Iran; Trump responded Friday morning from the White House.
💬 Key Quote: “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it… They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come. A lot more,” said President Trump.
⚠️ Impact: High-ranking Iranian officials and nuclear scientists killed; Iran refuses further nuclear peace talks and blames the U.S. for Israel’s actions.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump responded Friday morning to Israel’s military strikes on Iran, calling the operation a success and warning of potential further action. Speaking to the media, Trump stated, “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it. They got hit hard, very hard… And there’s more to come. A lot more.” He is expected to convene a meeting of the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room at around 11 AM to discuss the situation.
The strikes, which occurred Thursday evening, targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear site and reportedly killed several high-ranking Iranian officials, including military commanders Mohammad Bagheri, Hossein Salami, Gholamali Rashid, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Two prominent Iranian nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, are also believed to have been killed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, serving as Trump’s point man on the conflict, clarified that the strikes were “unilateral” actions by Israel and that the U.S. was not directly involved. Rubio emphasized, “Our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” while warning Iran against targeting U.S. personnel.
Iranian state media condemned the strikes, accusing the United States of coordinating with Israel. “The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States,” stated Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Trump, who monitored the strikes overnight from the White House, told Fox News he had prior knowledge of Israel’s plans but chose not to intervene. He reiterated his stance that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb” and expressed hope for renewed negotiations, despite Iran’s announcement that it would not participate in future peace talks.
The president’s social media posts reflected a mix of warnings and calls for diplomacy. “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left… JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he wrote. Trump also blamed Iranian hardliners for failed negotiations, stating, “Certain Iranian hardliners… didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”
Special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to attend peace talks in Oman on Sunday, though Iran’s refusal to engage casts doubt on potential progress.