Trump warns Israel strike on Iran ‘could happen’ amid Middle East evacuation, nuclear negotiations
Trump warns Israel strike on Iran ‘could happen’ amid Middle East evacuation, nuclear negotiations
IAEA board declares Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations as tensions escalate in Middle East
By Published June 12, 2025 12:48pm EDT | Updated June 12, 2025 1:41pm EDT
Trump questioned on possibility of Israeli strike on Iran
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President Donald Trump on Thursday wouldn’t say an attack by Israel on Iran was imminent, but warned it “could happen” as the U.S. continues to pressure Tehran on a nuclear deal, but simultaneously prepares evacuations from the Middle East.
“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” Trump said. “Look, it’s very simple, not complicated. Iran can not have a nuclear weapon.
“Other than that, I want them to be successful,” he continued. “We’ll help them be successful, will trade with them. We’ll do whatever is necessary.”
Trump said ultimately he’d “love to avoid the conflict,” but said that Iran is going to have to negotiate a “little bit tougher.”
US President Donald Trump greets Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 4, 2025. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
“Meaning they’re going to have to give us some things that they’re not willing to give us right now,” he said in apparent reference to Iran’s so far refusal to give up nuclear enrichment capabilities.
The president said the U.S. and Iran are “fairly close to a pretty good agreement” but then added, “It’s got to be better than pretty good though.”
Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the U.S. has advised some evacuation efforts in the Middle East as the security situation with Tehran could become “dangerous” amid uncertain nuclear negotiations.
“They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place,” Trump said. “We’ve given notice to move out, and we’ll see what happens.”
The president’s comments came after the U.S. embassy in Iraq ordered a partial evacuation of non-emergency government personnel and military dependents have been authorized to leave locations around the Middle East.
A view of the U.S. Embassy building and its surroundings in Baghdad, Iraq on Jun. 11, 2025. The U.S. Department of State has decided to withdraw some personnel from the U.S. Embassy located in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. (Murtadha AL-Sudani/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Reports originally claimed similar orders had been issued in Bahrain and Kuwait, though no notices have been posted to the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, and the embassy in Bahrain said that reports that it “has changed its posture in any way are false” and staffing operations remain “unchanged and activities continue as normal.”
Embassies near Iran have been ordered to hold emergency action committees and report back to DC on their risk-mitigation plans.
No U.S. troops have been pulled from the Middle East at this time.
The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions on why Iraq was deemed particularly dangerous when similar notices have not been issued in other nations surrounding Iran.
Bahrain holds the highest number of military families according to reports, and though no embassy or military changes have been made, Trump on Thursday said, “We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings.
“It’s possible. So I had to do it,” he added.
When asked this week how the U.S. can calm the escalating security situation in the region, Trump did not provide a direct answer, but said, “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simply, they can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to allow that.”
The status of negotiation progress remains unclear as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to head to Oman on Sunday for the sixth round of direct and indirect nuclear negotiations with Iran, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed on Thursday.
