5 hr 19 min ago
Trump administration knew about attack in advance, Netanyahu says
From CNN's Dana Karni and Lauren Kent
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israel coordinated with the United States “in advance” of the attack on Iran, and the Trump administration “knew about the strike.”
“We have told them in advance, they knew about the strike,” Netanyahu said in a pre-recorded video released Friday afternoon. “What they will do now, I leave it to President Trump, he makes his own decisions independently.”
“I will not speak for him. He speaks very persuasively and very firmly and said Iran should not have nuclear weapons, they should not have enrichment capabilities,” Netanyahu added.
Keep in mind: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Thursday that there was no US involvement or assistance in the strikes.
Just to remind folks. The United States was in on this.
Trump suggests Israel's strikes could make Iran more likely to "negotiate seriously"
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo
President Donald Trump
told Axios that Israel’s strikes on Iran could help his efforts to secure a nuclear deal with Iran.
Asked if he thought the attacks jeopardized the process, Trump said, “I don’t think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously.”
He reiterated his suggestion that there’s still room for a deal. “I couldn’t get them to a deal in 60 days. They were close, they should have done it. Maybe now it will happen,” Trump said.
Axios reported that Trump declined to give details about a possible call today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CNN has reached out to the White House about timing of the call.
Trump says Iran's nuclear status is uncertain and he's not sure talks will go ahead this weekend
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo
President Donald Trump
told Reuters it’s uncertain whether Iran’s nuclear program exists following Israel’s strikes and that US talks with Iran are still planned for Sunday, although he isn’t sure they’ll happen.
“We knew everything, and I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out. They can still work out a deal however, it’s not too late,” Trump told Reuters in a phone interview.
In another phone interview
with NBC News, Trump reiterated that Iran “may have another opportunity” to strike a nuclear deal and implied that Iranians are reaching out to him.
“Now, they may have another opportunity. We’ll see,” Trump told NBC.
“They’re calling me to speak,” Trump added without specifying who is calling him. “The same people we worked with the last time … Many of them are dead now.”
7 hr 26 min ago
Trump spoke with Netanyahu several times Thursday, including before Israeli strikes, source says
From CNN's Alayna Treene
President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several times on Thursday, including prior to Israel launching unprecedented strikes on Iran, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN.
The source would not divulge the substance of the calls but reiterated that Trump believes the attack was a result of Iran failing to strike an agreement on a new nuclear deal before his
60-day deadline expired.
Trump is set to speak to Netanyahu later today, according a US and an Israeli official.
White House officials continue to argue that the president is committed to salvaging the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran. The source said special envoy Steve Witkoff is “ready” to meet Iranian officials when they are — whether it be in Oman on Sunday as previously scheduled or at some date thereafter.