U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he’s “not glad” with the most recent talks over Iran’s nuclear program but indicated he would give negotiators more time to achieve a deal to avert one other war within the Middle East.
He spoke a day after U.S. envoys held one other inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. As American forces gather within the region, Trump has threatened military motion if Iran doesn’t comply with a far-reaching deal on its nuclear program, while Iran insists it has the best to complement uranium for peaceful purposes and denies in search of a nuclear weapon.
“I’m not glad with the incontrovertible fact that they’re not willing to provide us what we’ve to have. I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens. We’re talking later,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. “We’re not exactly glad with the way in which they’re negotiating. They can not have nuclear weapons.”
Trump was asked in regards to the risks of the U.S. getting involved in a drawn-out conflict if it strikes Iran.
“I assume you possibly can say there’s all the time a risk,” Trump replied. “You already know, when there’s war, there’s a risk of anything, each good and bad.
“I’d love not to make use of it but sometimes you’ve to,” he added when asked in regards to the potential use of force.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to make a fast trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said. The U.S. Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to go away to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to go away the region and signaling that U.S. military motion is perhaps imminent.
Global News has asked the Canadian government if it was also telling embassy staff in Israel to go away, after Global Affairs Canada warned Canadians in Iran to go away “now for those who can do safely.”
The announcement of Rubio’s visit, and Trump’s latest remarks, could indicate an extended timeline for any potential strike.
The State Department said Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to “discuss a spread of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza.” It offered no other details.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long urged tougher U.S. motion against Iran, and has warned that Israel will reply to any Iranian attack.
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A confidential report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog meanwhile confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed in the course of the 12-day war launched by Israel last June. Because of this, it said it couldn’t confirm Iran’s claims that it stopped uranium enrichment after the U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The report was circulated to member countries and seen by The Associated Press.
Those wishing to go away ‘should accomplish that TODAY’
The announcement of Rubio’s visit got here just hours after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem implemented “authorized departure” status for nonessential personnel and relations, which implies that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.
In an email, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to accomplish that quickly, advising them to concentrate on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their solution to Washington.
“Those wishing to take AD should accomplish that TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for “authorized departure.”
“While there could also be outbound flights over the approaching days, there is probably not,” he added. The e-mail was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn’t authorized to share details.
On a town-hall meeting Friday after the e-mail was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to maintain flying.
Vance meets with mediator
Iran and the USA on Thursday walked away from one other round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva and not using a deal.
Technical discussions are scheduled to happen in Vienna next week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said “what must occur has been clearly spelled out from our side,” without offering specifics. Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear program.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, met Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance to debate the negotiations.
“I’m grateful for his or her engagement and look ahead to further and decisive progress in the approaching days,” al-Busaidi posted on X. “Peace is inside our reach.”
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, meanwhile met with Christopher Yeaw, a U.S. arms control official. Grossi posted on X that the 2 men had a “timely exchange on current non-proliferation issues, including in Iran and other areas of common interest.”
The U.N. chief urged Iran and the U.S. “to concentrate on the diplomatic track.”
“We’re seeing each positive messages coming out of the diplomatic tracks, which we’re continuing to encourage,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said, based on his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
“We’re also seeing very worrying military movements throughout the region, which is incredibly concerning as well.”
Flights suspended as persons are urged to go away
The U.S. has gathered a large fleet of aircraft and warships within the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and one other heading to the region. Iran says it should reply to any U.S. attack by targeting American forces within the region, potentially including those stationed in U.S. bases in allied Arab countries.
Airlines resembling Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.
Britain’s Foreign Office said that “as a consequence of the safety situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran.” It said the embassy was operating remotely.
In Israel, the U.K. said Friday it moved some diplomatic staff and their families from Tel Aviv to a different, unspecified location in Israel “as a precautionary measure.” In an update to its travel advice, the Foreign Office advises against “all but essential travel” to Israel.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday the U.K. was focused on “supporting the political process” between Washington and Tehran.
Germany‘s Foreign Ministry meanwhile advised urgently against travel to Israel.
Australia on Wednesday “directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation within the Middle East.” China, India and a number of other European countries with missions in Iran have advised residents to avoid travel to the country.
China’s Foreign Ministry also advised its residents already in Iran to go away, based on an announcement reported by Chinese state media.
Price and Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank, Seung Min Kim in Washington, Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna, Farnoush Amiri on the United Nations, Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut and Pangiotis Pylas in London contributed to this report.