Donald Trump has issued a stark warning of a potential “massive conflict” in the Middle East if nuclear negotiations with Iran fall apart, amid growing fears of an Israeli preemptive strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Speaking on Thursday, Trump expressed concern that an Israeli attack could derail ongoing talks and said he had ordered the evacuation of some U.S. personnel from the region in anticipation of possible Iranian retaliation, which he said could involve missile strikes on American buildings.
His remarks followed a sharp rebuke of Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which accused Tehran of enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations. In response, Iran dismissed the resolution as politically motivated and announced the creation of a third uranium enrichment site, further escalating tensions.
Reports from U.S. media suggest that Israel is prepared to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without waiting for American support, potentially as early as Sunday. While the Trump administration has reportedly informed Israel that it will not participate in any military action, Trump acknowledged the likelihood of an Israeli offensive, stating, “There’s a chance of massive conflict.”
Highlighting the risk to American lives, Trump said, “We have a lot of American people in this area… I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander, Hossein Salami, warned that any Israeli aggression would be met with a more powerful and destructive response than ever before. Meanwhile, the U.S. has ordered the departure of non-essential embassy staff from Iraq, as well as military dependents from several countries in the region, raising alarm about the possibility of imminent military escalation.
Despite the rising tensions, Trump reiterated his commitment to diplomacy. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet Iranian officials in Oman for another round of negotiations. Trump stated that a deal is within reach and emphasized the importance of avoiding Israeli military action until talks are resolved.
“We’re fairly close to a pretty good agreement,” he said. “As long as there’s a chance for that, I don’t want [Israel] going in, because it could blow it.”
In a social media post, Trump doubled down on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, writing: “We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue… Iran could be a great country, but it must abandon its nuclear ambitions first.”
The IAEA’s censure, the strongest in two decades, focused on Iran’s refusal to clarify past nuclear activities at undeclared sites and its accumulation of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a level close to weapons-grade. The vote could pave the way for the reimposition of broader UN sanctions later this year, as tensions over Iran’s nuclear program approach a boiling point.
