Trump to command Israel-Iran crisis from Situation Room as hawkish allies declare ‘game on’

President Donald Trump moved quickly Friday to respond to Israel’s series of military strikes against Iran on Thursday evening. 

He spoke with several top American news anchors on Friday, describing the attack as a success. 

“I think it’s been excellent,’ he told ABC News anchor Jon Karl. ‘We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it. They got hit hard, very hard. They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come. a lot more.’

The president’s next major action will take place in a meeting with his National Security Council at 11:00 a.m. EST, even as he monitored the ongoing attacks overnight from the White House. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the president’s point person in the ongoing conflict, as the White House national security advisor. 

Rubio announced Thursday night that Israel’s action against Iran was ‘unilateral’ and that the United States was not involved.

‘Our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,’ Rubio announced in a statement.

Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier Thursday evening he was aware of the pending Israeli strikes before they took place, but did not intervene to stop them. 

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House

President Donald Trump, left, greets Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House

‘Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We’ll hopefully get back to the negotiating table,’ Trump said. ‘There are several people in leadership in Iran who will not be coming back.’

Trump also spoke with CNN host Dana Bash about the strikes and vowed to stand with Israel.  

‘We of course support Israel, obviously and supported it like nobody has ever supported it,’ Trump said, according to Bash. 

‘Iran should have listened to me when I said – you know I gave them, I don’t know if you know but I gave them a 60-day warning and today is day 61,’ he added. 

Rubio warned Iran not to attack any American forces in the region.

‘Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,’ he wrote.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry noted in a statement that the United States would be held responsible for Israel’s attacks.

‘The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States,’ they noted.

The president’s decision to allow Israel to strike Iran drew cheers from more hawkish Republicans, who have been urging him to take more aggressive approach in the Middle East.

‘Game on,’ wrote Sen. Lindsey Graham on social media. ‘Pray for Israel.’

‘Donald Trump doesn’t mess around. Bombs away,’ cheered Rep. Randy Fine of Florida on social media after the attacks.

Trump’s first Secretary of State and former CIA director Mike Pompeo appeared on Fox News on Friday morning, greeting hosts by noting it was ‘a very good morning’

‘There was literally zero evidence that the negotiations were going to lead to a good outcome,’ he said about Trump’s peace talks.

‘I think the Israeli leadership finally decided not only did they have the moment to do this, but they had the tools and resources to effectively obliterate much of the Iranian regime’s military programs.’

Pompeo cheered on the strikes as a demonstration of ‘Western resolve’ to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Smoke rises up after an explosion in Tehran, Iran

Smoke and flames rise, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Piranshahr, Iran in this screen grab obtained by Reuters

‘This was the go time,’ Pompeo said about the attacks. ‘I hope they stay in this. They need to continue this until they complete the effort to diminish Iran’s nuclear program in a way that we get a decade or two of respite. I don’t think the ayatollah going to change his ways.’

Trump shared his thoughts on the strike on social media, reminding Americans he gave Iran a ‘chance’ to make a deal. 

‘I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,’ he said, noting that he warned them of Israel’s potential attacks. 

Trump blamed Iranian hardliners for failing to move on negotiations.  

‘Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!’ he wrote. 

 The president signaled his openness to ongoing peace talks, warning of Israel’s ‘more brutal’ efforts to conduct more military strikes. 

US President Donald Trump (L), speaks as US First Lady Melania Trump looks on from the Truman balcony during the Congressional picnic

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

‘Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,’ he wrote. ‘No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!’ 

Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to attend peace talks in Oman on Sunday and still intends to keep his end of the deal, according to Axios.   

Iran announced on state television it will not participate in any future nuclear peace talks.

Israel’s strikes targeted the Natanz nuclear site in Iran as well as key Iranian military officials.

Mohammad Bagheri, the commander in chief of the military was killed as well as Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Gholamali Rashid, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh:

Iranian state media also announced that two scientists who were leading Iran’s nuclear developments were also killed, Fereydoun Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, the president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk