Washington: In response to Israel’s overnight assault on Iranian military and nuclear installations, President Donald Trump will convene with top national security officials on Friday, the White House confirmed late Thursday. The National Security Council (NSC) meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) and comes amid heightened tensions gripping the Middle East.
The Israeli government has confirmed that its forces carried out strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile production sites, and senior military officials, framing the operation as a strategic effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Israeli officials described the campaign as potentially prolonged, signaling that more action could follow.
While Israel's operation has triggered regional alarm, the Trump administration has maintained a deliberate distance from the assault. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the United States was not a participant, stating:
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran. Our focus remains the protection of American personnel across the region.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, confirmed in an interview with CNN that while Israel consults with Washington, the decision to strike Iran was made independently.
“This was a sovereign choice by Israel’s leadership,” Danon said, refusing to speculate on whether U.S. support would follow in case of Iranian retaliation.
Sunday’s planned sixth round of nuclear negotiations in Oman between U.S. and Iranian diplomats now faces uncertainty. The strike has thrown the already delicate diplomatic process into doubt, with neither side confirming whether the talks will proceed.
Just hours before the Israeli offensive, President Trump had warned that a military confrontation with Iran was possible, though he reiterated a preference for diplomatic solutions.
A U.S. defense official told Reuters that the Pentagon is reviewing contingency plans, which include possible evacuation operations for American citizens in the Middle East should the situation escalate further.
Following the strikes, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert, instructing all American diplomatic staff and their families to remain sheltered in place until further notice. The State Department also cautioned that U.S. personnel may face new travel restrictions across parts of Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank due to unpredictable security developments.
“Given the fluid nature of the current situation, changes to the security environment may occur without advance warning,” the embassy stated.
As tensions ripple across the region, all eyes now turn to Friday's security meeting, where President Trump and his advisors are expected to assess the potential fallout—and determine the next steps for U.S. policy in a rapidly destabilizing Middle East.