Trump Warns Israeli Strike on Iran Could Spark Massive Conflict

President Donald Trump cautioned an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear program "could very well happen" threatening the threat of a massive regional war while urging diplomacy and proclaiming he was "fairly close" to achieving a new nuclear agreement. He cautioned any pre-emptive attack would "blow" discussions that are ongoing now, as the United States ordered non-emergency employees to depart bases in the Middle East for safety concerns.

The warning coincided with a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency condemning Tehran for “failing to comply” with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations the agency’s strongest rebuke of Iran in two decades. In response, Iran denounced the measure as politically driven and announced plans to activate a secret enrichment center, replacing first-generation centrifuges with advanced sixth-generation machines, and increasing its uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity.

Meanwhile, negotiations facilitated by Oman will be reconvening this weekend as American and Iranian leaders seek a diplomatic resolution. Trump reaffirmed his government's pledge to negotiations, vowing that any existing military attack would sabotage months of diplomacy and heighten the danger of missiles striking civilian structures across the region.