The US President, Donald Trump, on Thursday said that Israel’s attack on Iran looks very close, although he favors a deal with Tehran if it compromises, reported AFP.
Israeli Attack
Asked about Israel’s potential attack on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen.”
The US President also said that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which he said could spark a “massive conflict.”
He urged Israel not to attack Iran, as Washington and Tehran are edging closer to a new nuclear deal. “We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement,” he said.
“I don’t want them going in, because I think it would blow it,” he added.
Nuclear Deal Close
Trump said he prefers negotiations with Iran to avoid conflict. However, he added that Tehran has to cede more ground in its negotiations with Washington to avoid conflict.
“I’d love to avoid the conflict. Iran’s going to have to negotiate a little bit tougher – meaning they’re going to have to give us some things that they’re not willing to give us right now,” he told reporters.
IAEA Resolution
Trump’s remarks came after the IAEA’s Board of Governors announced that Iran is in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years.
In response, Iran called the resolution “political” and announced countermeasures, including establishing a third enrichment facility in a “secure location,” and upgrading its centrifuges for advanced ones at Fordo, which will significantly boost Iran’s production of enriched materials.
Pulling US Personnel
Amid escalating tensions, the US arranged the departure of non-essential personnel from locations around the Middle East, citing heightened security risks in the region.
Moreover, the US Embassy in Israel issued a security alert instructing American government employees and their families to remain in the Tel Aviv area over security concerns.
Trump said that Washington was pulling American personnel out of the region because “it could be a dangerous place,” stressing that he would not allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon.
