Israel-Iran strikes continue: What we cognize
President Trump declared successful a social media station Tuesday, "We present person implicit and full power of the skies implicit Iran" — a assertion that departed from earlier U.S. statements that Israel's violative against Iran was being carried retired without U.S. involvement.
CBS News has reached retired to the White House to petition clarification connected what the president meant erstwhile helium said "we" person power implicit the skies of Iran.
Mr. Trump added, "Iran had bully entity trackers and different antiaircraft equipment, and plentifulness of it, but it doesn't comparison to American-made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it amended than the bully ol' USA." The Israeli subject is equipped with craft and weapons systems purchased from the U.S.
The U.S. has been helping Israel fend disconnected Iranian counterstrikes since Israel began its strikes connected Iran past week, but has said the U.S. "is not involved successful Israel's unilateral enactment against targets successful Iran."
Mr. Trump began a gathering Tuesday day successful the White House Situation Room with his nationalist information squad connected the Israel-Iran conflict, according to aggregate sources.
Writing connected Truth Social, the president besides utilized menacing connection astir Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's ultimate leader. He said successful a station that the U.S. knows wherever Khamenei is, but isn't going to termination him — "at slightest not for now."
"We cognize precisely wherever the alleged 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," Mr. Trump wrote. "He is an casual target, but is harmless determination — We are not going to instrumentality him retired (kill!), astatine slightest not for now. But we don't privation missiles changeable astatine civilians oregon American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attraction to this matter!
A infinitesimal later, helium added, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"
The White House has besides not provided immoderate further accusation astir the president's comments astir Khamenei's whereabouts.
CBS News reported connected Sunday that President Trump opposed an Israeli program to termination Khamenei.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined to regularisation retired the anticipation of targeting Iran's leader. Asked by ABC News successful an interview that aired Monday if Israel would effort to termination Khamenei, Netanyahu said lone that his state was "doing what we request to do."
Netanyahu denied that specified a determination would beryllium escalatory, saying, "It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to extremity the conflict."
Vice President JD Vance suggested successful a post connected X Tuesday that the president "may determine helium needs to instrumentality further enactment to extremity Iranian enrichment," adding, "That determination yet belongs to the president."
Vance said that "people are close to beryllium disquieted astir overseas entanglement aft the past 25 years of idiotic overseas policy" and articulated the administration's interest astir Iran's uranium enrichment activities.
"I person yet to spot a azygous bully statement for wherefore Iran needed to enrich uranium good supra the threshold for civilian use," which is astir 3% to 5%. The International Atomic Energy Agency said successful a caller study that Iran is the lone non-nuclear limb authorities successful the satellite that is producing and accumulating uranium enriched to 60%.
Vance besides said successful his post, "I tin guarantee you that [the president] is lone funny successful utilizing the American subject to execute American people's goals. Whatever helium does, that is his focus."
Mr. Trump left the G7 economical summit successful Canada up of docket to absorption connected events successful the Middle East. He arrived successful D.C. aboriginal Tuesday aft flying backmost from Calgary connected Air Force One overnight.
Olivia Rinaldi, Margaret Brennan, James LaPorta and Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.
Kathryn Watson is simply a authorities newsman for CBS News Digital, based successful Washington, D.C.
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