President Donald Trump acknowledged having prior knowledge of Israel's military strikes against Iran during an interview with Fox News Channel chief political anchor Bret Baier. The president indicated that multiple Iranian leaders would not survive the operation while expressing hopes for renewed diplomatic engagement.
Trump disclosed that he has maintained frequent communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days. The president emphasized his administration's position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons capabilities while leaving the door open for future negotiations.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back," Trump stated during the interview.
The Trump administration informed at least one significant Middle Eastern partner about the impending Israeli operation while clarifying that the US played no operational role in the strikes. Administration officials have confirmed that several senior Iranian officials perished in the Israeli bombardment.
Trump announced plans to convene a National Security Council meeting Friday morning, with the White House confirming the session. The president had previously indicated that an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen" while maintaining his preference for peaceful resolution.
US Central Command has elevated its alert status as Trump monitors potential Iranian retaliation, with the president affirming America's readiness to defend both itself and Israel should Iran respond. The administration has recently replenished Israel's Iron Dome missile inventory as tensions escalated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized American non-involvement in the strikes, stating that Israel acted independently for self-defense purposes. "We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Rubio declared in an official statement.
"Let me be clear: Iran should not target US interests or personnel," Rubio added.
Iranian armed forces representatives threatened that Israel and the US would face severe consequences for the attack, accusing Washington of providing operational support despite American denials,. An Israeli official informed public broadcaster Kan that coordination with Washington had occurred regarding the Iran operation.
The State Department issued immediate guidance directing all US government personnel in Israel and their families to "shelter in place until further notice." Military planners are preparing for various contingencies across the Middle East, including potential civilian evacuation scenarios, a US official confirmed to Reuters.
Financial markets reacted sharply to the developments, with Asian trading sessions experiencing significant declines led by US futures selloff. Oil prices surged as investors sought refuge in traditional safe-haven assets including gold and the Swiss franc.
