US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he plans to attack Iran, but has not yet made a decision on strikes, BBC reports.
A senior military source has revealed that the US president has refrained from strikes for now, in case Iran agrees to give up its nuclear program. Trump is reportedly considering launching missile strikes on Fordo, where the uranium enrichment plant is located.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected an offer of unconditional surrender on the 18th of June, and Trump responded by saying that his patience was running out.
The US president added about the strikes on Iran: “I may do it, I may not do it.”
After Khamenei said that the Iranian people would not surrender, Trump wished “good luck”, but refrained from revealing his plans, indicating that no one knows what he is going to do. Meanwhile, Iran’s mission to the UN said in a post on the X that Iran is not negotiating or accepting a forced peace. Also, the post added that Trump’s actions are despicable.
Meanwhile, roads leading out of the Iranian capital, Tehran, have been blocked by traffic jams as residents try to flee the city to escape Israeli strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on the 18th of June that Israeli forces are gradually eliminating the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic missile arsenal.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate committee that the Pentagon was ready to carry out any order from Trump.
Meanwhile, US military forces are being reinforced in the Middle East, and several warships are heading to the Persian Gulf.
Military aircraft have also been moved from bases in Europe to the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on the 19th of June, and it is planned that the meeting will focus mainly on the issue of Iran.
Information available to the BBC indicates that the US has not made an official request to use military bases in Europe to carry out strikes on Iran.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem announced the evacuation of US citizens living in Israel on the 18th of June. It is not known how many Americans plan to leave Israel, nor is it clear whether the US military will be involved in the evacuation process.
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