Trump hints at more strike on Iran as US moves to airlift Americans from Israel. By Dally Iyamu
Trump hints at more strike on Iran as US moves to airlift Americans from Israel
The United States has begun urgent efforts to evacuate its citizens from Israel by air and sea as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate.
US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced on Wednesday that the US Embassy in Jerusalem is coordinating evacuation flights and cruise ship departures.
In a post on X, he urged Americans in Israel to enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time updates on the situation.
Meanwhile, the first Israelis stranded abroad have started returning home after the Israeli government permitted the resumption of incoming flights.
Israel’s airspace had been closed since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran last Friday, grounding tens of thousands of travellers after flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled.
Outbound passenger flights from Israel remain suspended. El Al Airlines, the national carrier, has cancelled all scheduled flights until 23 June.
US President Donald Trump has hinted at possible military action against Iran in the coming days.
“Next week will be decisive regarding Iran, and it may happen before the end of the week,” Mr Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn when asked whether the US would join Israel’s military campaign.
“I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran’s got a lot of trouble,” he said.
The US president is reportedly considering supporting Israeli strikes on Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility, which has not yet been targeted in the ongoing hostilities.
The British Prime Minister is expected to meet with security chiefs today to deliberate on the UK’s response if Washington seeks British military support in any potential strike on Iran.
Mr Trump further revealed that Iran had shown interest in fresh negotiations and had even proposed visiting the White House.
“Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate,” he said. “And I told them, why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction?
Aviation analysts have reported that three Iranian aircraft, including the presidential jet, are flying towards Oman.
Experts monitoring global flight tracking services believe that Iranian negotiators may be heading to Muscat for possible ceasefire talks. However, no official statement has been issued by Tehran.
Sources familiar with the development told The Telegraph that the Iranian delegation is not scheduled to meet with US officials.
Oman had been facilitating indirect talks between the US and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear programme until the Israeli strikes began last Friday.
Earlier, Iran’s mission to the United Nations declared: “Iran does not negotiate under duress and shall not accept peace under duress.”
