Iran-Israel news: US preparing for possible strike on Iran after Khamenei rejects calls to surrender? | 10 points

In remarks on Iran, US President Trump stated he had a deal that was ultimately turned down after extensive talks. He mentioned the possibility of meetings and expressed his distress over the current violence.

Here are the top ten updates on the Iran-Israel conflict:

1. Senior U.S. officials are reportedly getting ready for a potential strike on Iran in the next few days, according to Bloomberg News, which cited sources familiar with the matter. The sources indicated that the situation remains fluid and could shift. Some of them mentioned that a strike might take place over the weekend, Bloomberg reported.

Also Read: Israel-Iran News LIVE: Trump claims Iran reaching out to US for negotiations, Tehran refutes

2. Trump expressed regret over the missed deal, and said, “They should have made the deal. I had a great deal for them. We talked about it for 60 days, and in the end, they decided not to do it, and now they wish they had. It's late to meet, but they want to, and they want to come to the White House. I may do that... Anything could happen...”

3. He added, “I have a meeting in the war room in a while. We are in the midst of something terrible. I hate to see so much death and destruction. I have ideas as to what I could do, but they are not final. I like to finalise one second before it's due. Things change. Especially with war…”

4. Israeli strikes on Iran have resulted in at least 639 deaths and 1,329 injuries, according to a report released Thursday by the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The organization stated that the casualties include 263 civilians and 154 members of the security forces, with the figures covering incidents across the entire country, AP reported.

5. Iran's supreme leader firmly rejected U.S. demands for surrender amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Wednesday, warning that any American military intervention would inflict “irreparable damage” on the U.S.

Also Read: Israel-Iran Conflict: DG, Israeli Defence Ministry speaks with Indian Def Secretary on phone regarding current situation

6. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his second public appearance since the Israeli attacks began six days ago, as European diplomats prepared to meet with Iranian officials on Friday. Meanwhile, Israel began easing some daily restrictions, indicating a possible decline in the missile threat from Iran.

Also Read: Khamenei hands power to military as Israel tensions escalate — Is son Mojtaba emerging as Iran’s key power broker?

7. Deciding whether to launch a strike on Iran stands as one of the most significant geopolitical dilemmas a U.S. president has faced in decades. It also poses potential political challenges at home for Trump, as his support base is divided between isolationists and traditional conservative interventionists.

8. Trump has maintained that his main concern is ensuring “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” emphasising that “it’s not about anything else.” During his first term, he pulled the U.S. out of a multinational agreement designed to limit Iran’s nuclear program, a deal that had taken years of negotiation.

Also Read: ‘We saw drones, missiles…’ evacuated Indian students describe escalating Iran-Israel conflict

9. Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the location of Iran’s near-bomb-grade stockpile of enriched uranium cannot currently be verified, Bloomberg reported.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Wednesday the whereabouts of the material are now unclear, given Tehran warned him the stockpile could be moved in the event of an Israeli attack. “The agency continues to see no indication of significant damage to Iran’s Fordow nuclear site,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)