Donald Trump has approved plans to attack Iran, but has not made a final decision on whether to strike the country, the BBC’s US partner CBS reports.
The US president held off on initiating strikes in case Iran agreed to abandon its nuclear programme, a senior intelligence source told CBS. Trump is reportedly considering a US strike on Fordo, an underground uranium enrichment facility in Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected Trump’s demand for unconditional surrender, as the US president said his patience had run out.
On Wednesday, Trump said, “I may do it, I may not do it”, when asked a question about US involvement in Iran.
Khamenei rebuked Trump in Wednesday’s recorded speech, saying that “any US military intervention” would be costly and added: “The Iranian nation will not surrender.”
Trump brushed off the rejection, saying “good luck”, but again declined to disclose his plans. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said.
“Unconditional surrender – that means I’ve had it.”
The news of Trump backing strike plans was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Israel’s military launched more attacks on Iran, hitting missile sites and nuclear facilities. Iran said it had fired hypersonic missiles in response. No serious damage was reported in Israel.
It was Khamenei’s first appearance since Israel launched its pre-emptive strikes on Friday.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations mocked Trump in posts on X: “Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT with a has-been warmonger clinging to relevance.
“No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” it added.
“The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to ‘take out’ Iran’s supreme leader.”
Stay with IgbereTV Africa’s number one online community TV
