President Donald Trump is warning Iran to either agree to a nuclear deal or face more severe attacks described as ‘even more brutal’ following Israel’s surprising assault on its nuclear and military sites.
During Operation Rising Lion conducted overnight, various locations in Tehran and Iran’s nuclear facilities were struck in a powerful series of air attacks, heightening concerns that the Middle East may be heading towards a full-scale war.
Loud explosions echoed through Tehran as coordinated strikes hit structures suspected to be the residences of high-ranking military leaders and advisors.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the sophisticated operation, which involved a barrage of explosive-laden drones and more than 200 Israeli jets, targeted an Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz as well as the country’s ballistic missile program thanks to a secret drone base set up in Iran by Mossad.
Though the US initially sought to distance itself from the attack, Trump has now told Iran: ‘There is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, before there is nothing left.’
He said in a post to Truth Social: ‘I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done.
‘I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it.
‘Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!
US president Donald Trump (pictured) has threateningly told Iran to agree to a nuclear deal before there is ‘nothing left’
A person reacts as residential buildings in Nobonyad Square are shown following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran
‘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 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. God Bless You All!’
His top officials and allies quickly piled on the side of Trump.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that the United States was not involved in the strikes.
‘Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,’ he said in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail.
‘Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.’
The president will hold a meeting in the Situation Room with his top national security advisers at 11 a.m. ET to discuss a path forward.
The U.S. and Tehran have been actively engaged in discussions over a nuclear deal, including talks scheduled for this weekend.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly hopeful that the talks will continue as scheduled despite Israel’s actions overnight.
The president followed up on Truth Social saying Iran ‘should have’ followed his 60-day ultimatum to strike a nuclear deal.
‘Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to “make a deal.” They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!’
The president will hold a meeting in the Situation Room with his top national security advisers at 11 a.m. ET to discuss a path forward
Alongside the Israeli military’s strikes on nuclear and military targets, Mossad successfully pulled off a daring covert operation designed to cripple Iran’s air defences and allow Israel’s war planes to launch their attacks safely.
This included deploying precision-guided weapons in open areas near Iranian surface-to-air missile systems sites, and using drones launched from an undercover base near Tehran to target air defence assets, according to Israeli media reports citing security sources.
Trump’s latest post stands in stark contrast to his message to Israel hours before the strikes, warning Netanyahu not to interfere with nuclear talks.
When asked at the White House about the possibility of a strike on Iran last night, Trump said: ‘I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like something that could very well happen.
‘It’s very simple – not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful. We’ll help them be successful. We’ll trade with them, we’ll do whatever’s necessary.
‘I want to have an agreement with Iran. We’re fairly close. As long as there is an agreement, I don’t want [Israel] going in because I think that would blow it.
‘There’s a chance of massive conflict. We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said: ‘We’ve gotta tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don’t want to be the one who didn’t give them any warning.’
Drone footage shows Mossad’s operation targeting air defence and missile launchers
The Mossad spy agency reveals footage showing its actions against Iranian air defences
Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran
A building in Nobonyad Square is shown having suffered significant damage in Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran
People look over damage to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025 in Tehran, Iran
‘We’ve had very good discussions with Iran. Whether or not we get there, I can’t tell you – but it’ll happen soon.’
He admitted to Fox News today that he was made aware of Operation Rising Lion before it happened.
He added: ‘Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table.
‘We will see there are several people in leadership in Iran that will not be coming back.’
Early this morning, Iran launched a swarm of 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation to Israel’s strikes.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel ‘should anticipate a severe punishment’, adding that military forces ‘won’t let them go unpunished.’
He said that Israel had ‘sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny.’
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry said its army would not ‘hesitate to defend Iran’s sovereignty with full strength and in the manner they deem appropriate’.
And in a letter to the UN, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, said Israel’s strikes were a ‘declaration of war’ and ‘called on the Security Council to immediately address this issue’.
Buildings in residential areas across Tehran are damaged following Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities on June 13, 2025
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel ‘should anticipate a severe punishment’
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) said Israel had ‘sealed for itself a bitter and painful destiny’
But Iran’s drones have reportedly been intercepted by Israel’s air defence systems.
The preemptive strikes came after Israel said Iran has made significant advances towards the creation of a nuclear weapon, including the enrichment of uranium.
If this came to fruition, Iran would become the Middle East’s second nuclear power after Israel.
After Trump pulled the US out of the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran, which saw the Middle East nation agree to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, Iran quickly reached the necessary 60% enrichment of uranium needed for feasible nuclear weapons.
Israel said that Iran was also in the process of developing the technology needed to kickstart a nuclear reaction, and that it had been conducting radiation testing.
