Iran says nuclear talks 'meaningless' after Israeli strike, despite Trump offer of 'second chance'

Published connected 13/06/2025 - 23:29 GMT+2•Updated 14/06/2025 - 14:09 GMT+2

US President Donald Trump has framed nan volatile infinitesimal successful nan Middle East arsenic a imaginable "second chance” for Iran's activity to debar further demolition "before location is thing near and prevention what was erstwhile known arsenic nan Iranian Empire.” However, an Iranian spokesperson later called atomic talks pinch nan US "meaningless" aft Israel's barrage of strikes connected nan country.

Trump claimed connected his Truth Social level that he had fixed Iran a "60 time ultimatum to make a deal", and that Friday marked "day 61."

The White House has insisted that Washington was not progressive successful Israel's subject operation, though anonymous US officials person said nan Trump management was alert successful beforehand of Israel's planned large-scale attacks connected Iran.

In an question and reply pinch ABC News connected Friday morning, Trump said nan Israeli onslaught connected Iran was “excellent” and again previewed much attacks to come.

“We gave them a chance and they didn’t return it,” Trump told ABC’s Jon Karl. “They sewage deed hard, very hard. They sewage deed astir arsenic difficult arsenic you’re going to get hit. And there’s much to come. A batch more.”

The US president pressed connected Iran arsenic he met his nationalist information squad successful nan Situation Room connected Friday to talk nan tricky way guardant pursuing Israel's devastating strikes, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to support up for “as galore days arsenic it takes” to decapitate Iran's atomic programme.

While nan White House said it had nary engagement successful nan strikes, Trump highlighted that Israel utilized its heavy arsenal of weaponry provided by nan US to target Iran’s main enrichment installation successful Natanz and nan country’s ballistic rocket programme, arsenic good arsenic apical atomic scientists and officials.

Unclear whether scheduled US-Iran talks will still spell ahead

In nan aftermath of nan Israeli strikes, nan US is shifting its subject resources, including ships, successful nan Middle East arsenic it looks to defender against imaginable retaliatory attacks by Tehran, according to 2 US officials who said connected nan information of anonymity to talk delicate matters.

The Navy has directed nan destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to statesman sailing toward nan Eastern Mediterranean and has directed a 2nd destroyer to statesman moving forward, truthful it tin beryllium disposable if requested by nan White House.

As Israel stepped up readying for strikes successful caller weeks, Iran had signalled nan United States would beryllium held responsible successful nan arena of an Israeli attack. The informing was issued by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi moreover arsenic he engaged successful talks pinch Trump typical envoy Steve Witkoff complete Tehran's quickly advancing atomic programme.

Friday's strikes came arsenic Trump planned to dispatch Witkoff to Oman connected Sunday for nan adjacent information of talks pinch nan Iranian overseas minister.

Witkoff still plans to spell to Oman this play for talks connected Tehran’s atomic programme, but it’s unclear if nan Iranians will participate, according to US officials who said connected nan information of anonymity to picture backstage negotiated discussions.

Trump besides said Friday pinch British Prime Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron astir nan evolving situation, arsenic good arsenic Netanyahu.