‘A second chance’: Trump urges Iran to seek peace after Israeli strikes decimate nuclear sites
US President Donald Trump on Friday called on Iran to seize what he described as a “second chance” to avoid further devastation, following a sweeping Israeli military campaign targeting key nuclear and missile sites across Iran.As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue strikes “for as many days as it takes,” Trump said Iran’s leadership should return to the negotiating table “before there is nothing left and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”Trump, who held an emergency meeting with his national security team, stressed the US had not participated in the assault but highlighted that Israel used American-made weapons in the operation. “The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “And Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come.”The strikes, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, hit Iran’s enrichment facility at Natanz and its ballistic missile program, with Netanyahu declaring that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.Despite the escalating conflict, Trump signaled his intent to continue pursuing diplomacy. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, still plans to travel to Oman for talks with Iranian officials, though it’s uncertain if Iran will show up.Trump told US media that Iran is “calling me to speak” and urged them to “come to the table.” He also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and plans to speak with Netanyahu soon.Meanwhile, US warships are repositioning in the region amid concerns about Iranian retaliation. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine praised the Trump administration for prioritizing diplomacy and not joining the strikes, but warned the situation remains perilous.
