Israel said on Thursday it wanted US help in its strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as US President Donald Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether to intervene.
Israel launched air strikes on Iran last week, accusing Tehran of being close to developing nuclear weapons. The strikes have sparked a deadly exchange of missiles that has caused casualties and property damage in both countries.
On Thursday, a missile that Iran said was aimed at a military and intelligence base hit Soroka Hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, injuring 40 people and setting parts of the hospital on fire.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the attack, blaming him for the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking after the attack, said Iran would “pay a heavy price” for the attack.
“Israel has the ability to strike all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, and we welcome any help,” Netanyahu said. “Trump will do what is best for the United States, and I will do what is best for Israel.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran wants to send representatives to the White House to discuss a new deal on its nuclear program and how to stop the war with Israel.
Iran has categorically denied Trump’s claim, saying it is not seeking talks while Israel is attacking, and that it is defending itself and not showing any signs of aggression.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is expected to attend talks in Geneva on Friday, where representatives from France, Britain, Germany and the European Union are gathering to seek a negotiated end to the conflict.
Trump said he was considering the “possibility” of resuming nuclear talks with Iran, which have been stalled since Israel attacked Iranian military leaders and nuclear facilities.
Donald Trump formally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, which Iran signed with world powers in 2015.
Trump’s decision caused the trust built on the deal to crumble, as the United States reimposed tough economic sanctions on Iran, further fueling regional tensions.
With tensions high in the Middle East, Trump is expected to resume negotiations, trying to find a new deal that benefits Israel and the United States, while Iran is likely to demand the lifting of all sanctions in order to open up real negotiations.
The situation in the region is rapidly deteriorating, with the conflict between Israel and Iran reaching a dangerous level that threatens to spread throughout the region.
