WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump told senior aides Tuesday night he approved attack plans for Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The newspaper, citing three people familiar with the discussions, added that Trump was waiting to order an attack to see if Iran would abandon its nuclear program. The president might prefer to involve the U.S. in the conflict between Iran and Israel diplomatically, people familiar with his thinking reportedly explained.
Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social less than a day after The Wall Street Journal published its report that the newspaper has no idea what his thoughts about Iran are. The National News Desk requested comment from the White House Thursday afternoon but did not receive a response by the time the outlet published this article.
Trump has urged Iran to reach an agreement with the U.S. on its nuclear program, using Israel’s attacks on Iranian equipment and personnel as an example of the consequences of not making a deal. He said on Friday, when Israel launched missiles at Iran’s military bases and commanders, that Iran must “make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”
“No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The president added that he had given Iran “chance after chance” to reach an agreement before Israel attacked military bases, missile depots and nuclear bases and killed military leaders and nuclear scientists. “But no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” Trump explained.
“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!” the president said. “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.”
Iran’s New York mission to the United Nations posted on X Wednesday that no Iranian official has ever asked to grovel “at the gates of the White House.”
“The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to ‘take out’ Iran’s Supreme Leader,” the mission wrote. “Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT with a has-been warmonger clinging to relevance.”
Iran, the mission noted, will respond to any threat with a “counter-threat” and to any action with reciprocal measures.
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.