[Text/Observer Network Qi Qian] Israel launched a large-scale air strike on Iran, and Iran retaliated soon after. The situation in the Middle East has suddenly become tense.

According to Reuters, local time on June 13, U.S. President Trump told the agency in a telephone interview that he and his team were aware that the Israeli military was about to attack Iran, but they still believed there was space for a nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran.

"We know everything. I tried to prevent Iran from suffering humiliation and death," Trump said, "I did my best to save them because I really hope to see an agreement reached." He added: "They can still reach an agreement, and it's not too late now."

When asked whether the United States would support Israel in this conflict, Trump clearly stated that he supported Israel.

"Our relationship with Israel has always been very close, and so far, we are their number one ally," Trump told Reuters. "We will wait and see." He also said that he was not worried about Israel's attacks triggering regional wars, but did not elaborate.

On June 13, the Israeli Air Force launched an air strike, causing an explosion in Tehran, Iran. Visual China

Reuters reported that Trump had repeatedly urged Israel to delay its attack on Iran to give more time for diplomacy. However, in a series of interviews on the 13th, Trump described Israel's attack as "very excellent" and "very successful." The report suggested that Trump's change in attitude indicated his willingness to use military force to thwart Iran's nuclear program and hinted that he knew more than he was willing to publicly discuss.

At midnight on the 13th, the Israeli military launched a large-scale air strike on multiple locations in Iran, bombing Iran's nuclear facilities and killing several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone strikes against Israel.

Trump told Reuters on the 13th that he gave Iran 60 days to reach a nuclear deal, and now the time has come.

"We almost know everything," Trump said. "We know enough to give Iran 60 days to reach an agreement, and today is day 61, right? So, you know, we know everything." He said it was unclear whether Iran still had a nuclear program, given that Israel had launched a "very devastating" attack on Iran.

However, Trump said that the United States still plans to hold nuclear negotiations with Iran on the 15th, but he was unsure if the talks would take place.

"They are not dead," Trump said when talking about US-Iranian talks. "We will meet with them on the 15th. Now, I'm not sure if the meeting will happen, but we will meet with them."

Previously, Oman's Foreign Minister announced that Iran and the United States would hold the sixth round of indirect talks in Oman on June 15. However, after Israel's air strike, Iran's government announced on the morning of the 13th that it would suspend the sixth round of nuclear negotiations until further notice. Earlier, Trump had issued a threat, claiming that the next attack would be even more brutal, urging Iran to quickly reach a nuclear agreement with the United States.

Israel's air defense system intercepts missiles. CCTV News

At midnight local time on the 13th, the Israeli military launched an air strike targeting dozens of facilities related to Iran's nuclear program and other military installations. The Israeli military said that Iran had enough enriched uranium to make several bombs within days, necessitating a "preemptive" action against this "imminent threat."

The Iranian media confirmed on the 13th that General Salah, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Bagheri, and Commander Amir-Ali Hajizadeh of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in the attack. In addition, at least six Iranian nuclear scientists were also killed in the air strike, including senior expert Tehranqi of the Nuclear Safety Department of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Davani.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on the same day that Israel's first sudden strike on Iran was "very successful." He also stated that Israel's strikes on Iran would "continue for several days." The targets of the Israeli military operation were "to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military capabilities."

In the evening of the 13th, Iran launched three waves of missile attacks on Israel, with several buildings in Israel being hit and at least 50 people injured. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have carried out "devastating precise strikes" on dozens of targets.

The Israeli Defense Forces said that in the past hour, two waves of missile attacks from Iran were detected, with fewer than 100 missiles in total, most of which were intercepted or fell mid-flight. Some buildings in Israel were hit by fragments from intercepted missiles.

Currently, Israel has begun新一轮 strikes, and Iran's capital, Tehran, has activated its air defense system.

Reuters mentioned that some U.S. officials said that Trump and Netanyahu had a phone call that day, and the U.S. military helped shoot down the missiles fired by Iran at Israel.

This article is an exclusive article of Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515600913710301707/

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