President Trump stated he is "not thrilled" with Iran following recent negotiations on its nuclear program, but emphasized he has not yet decided on military action. "I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. So I'm not thrilled," Trump said in his first comments on the Geneva talks, which ended Thursday without a deal.
The US president stressed he does not want to use military force against Iran, but noted sometimes "you have to." Concerns over potential US strikes prompted several countries to issue warnings to their citizens in the region on Friday.
The UK temporarily withdrew staff from its embassy in Tehran and updated travel advice to advise against "all but essential travel" to Israel. Countries including China, India, and Canada urged their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible due to the prospect of hostilities. Germany advised "urgently" against travel to Israel, while France reiterated its warning.
Meanwhile, the US urged its citizens in Iran to depart "immediately." Its embassy in Israel also allowed some non-emergency staff and families to leave, advising they may wish to do so "while commercial flights are available."
Trump has threatened military action against Tehran if it does not reach a deal on its nuclear ambitions. He has ordered the largest US military buildup in the Middle East since 2003, while Iran has vowed to respond forcefully to any attack.
Washington and its allies suspect Iran is moving toward developing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies, claiming its program is for peaceful purposes despite enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who mediated the talks, said Tehran agreed never to stockpile enriched uranium, making "the enrichment argument less relevant." He reported "significant progress" but noted the chances of a deal to avert war remain unclear.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "good progress" had been made, but differences persist. Negotiations will resume "soon," with technical discussions scheduled next week in Vienna.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel on Monday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss "a range of regional priorities," including Iran. Rubio also designated Iran a "state sponsor of wrongful detention."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee advised embassy staff wishing to leave to "do so TODAY." Vice President JD Vance said strikes remain under consideration but there is "no chance" of a drawn-out war, preferring a diplomatic solution dependent on Iran's actions.
Source: www.bbc.com