Trump says Israel will strike if Iran keeps nuclear weapons

President Donald Trump has indicated that Israel would assume a leading role in any potential military action against Iran if Tehran does not abandon its nuclear weapons program. This statement precedes the upcoming negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Oman. While Trump has characterized these talks as direct, Iranian authorities have described them as indirect.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for Trump’s diplomatic initiatives aimed at reaching an agreement with Iran. Netanyahu emphasized that both Israel and the United States share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He has also indicated openness to a diplomatic resolution similar to Libya’s 2003 disarmament agreement, wherein Libya relinquished its nuclear program.

The United States has voiced escalating concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear advancements, noting that Tehran is approaching the capability to produce a functional nuclear weapon. Trump has reiterated his preference for a diplomatic solution but has not dismissed the possibility of military intervention should negotiations fail. He underscored that while Israel would play a significant role in any military action, the United States would act based on its own strategic decisions.

In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and has extended an invitation for American investment in Iran, contingent upon reaching a mutual agreement. This gesture represents a shift from Iran’s previous stance following the 2015 nuclear deal, which largely excluded U.S. companies from entering the Iranian market.