U.S. officials have been told Israel is fully ready to launch an operation into Iran, multiple sources told CBS News.
The U.S. anticipates Iran could retaliate on certain American sites in neighboring Iraq. This is part of the reason the U.S. advised some Americans to leave the region earlier Wednesday, with the State Department ordering non-emergency government officials to exit Iraq due to “heightened regional tensions.”
President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is still planning to meet with Iran for a sixth round of talks on the country’s nuclear program in the coming days, two U.S. officials said.
Mr. Trump spoke about Iran at an appearance at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, telling reporters Americans were advised to leave the region “because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens.” Mr. Trump also reiterated the U.S. did not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, saying: “We’re not going to allow that.”
Israeli officials and White House spokespeople declined to comment.
The Trump administration has sought a deal with Iran to limit the country’s nuclear program, as international watchdogs say the country has continued to enrich uranium to near-weapons level. The talks are delicate, and it’s unclear how close the two sides are to a deal: Mr. Trump has said he will not accept any uranium enrichment by Iran, but Iranian leaders have indicated they won’t accept those terms, the president said earlier this week.
For years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been deeply skeptical of any deal with Iran. The two countries have been nemeses since Iran’s 1979 revolution. Netanyahu’s office says Israel has conducted “countless overt and covert operations” to stunt the growth of Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, Mr. Trump said publicly he had urged Netanyahu not to strike Iran while his administration pursues negotiations with the regime.
“I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution,” Mr. Trump said.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-is-poised-to-launch-operation-on-iran-sources-say/
