Attack on Iran "Entirely Possible" and Led by Israel

US President Donald Trump said today that an attack on Iran is "entirely possible" if the Islamic Republic does not give up its nuclear weapons program, and that Israel would lead the offensive.

"If we have to use force, we will use force," the US president told reporters in the Oval Office, just days before talks scheduled for this weekend between US and Iranian officials in the Middle Eastern sultanate of Oman.

In the event of an attack, "Israel will, of course, be very involved and will lead the charge," Trump added.

"But nobody leads us, we do what we want to do," he stressed regarding the role of the United States.

The US president previously said that the talks with Tehran in Oman would be "direct," while Iran called them "indirect."

Washington today imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting five entities and one individual based in Iran for "supporting entities that manage or oversee the nuclear program" of Tehran, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department (equivalent to the Ministry of Finance).

"The Iranian regime's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons continues "The US is a serious threat to the United States, regional stability and global security," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.

US President Donald Trump, who received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, surprised everyone by announcing that same day that a "high-level" meeting would be held on Saturday, despite the fact that Washington and Tehran have not had diplomatic relations for 45 years.

Western countries, led by the United States, have long suspected that Tehran intends to acquire nuclear weapons. These allegations are rejected by the Islamic Republic, which defends its right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes, including for the production of electricity.

The sanctions have the effect of freezing any assets of the individuals or entities targeted in the United States and prohibiting any financial transactions with them.

During his first presidential term (2017-2021), Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal with Iran in 2018, three years after it was withdrawn by the Barack Obama administration (2009-2017).

The deal also involved China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany.

The pact limited Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

With the withdrawal from the deal, Trump reinstated sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, but they exchange information indirectly through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests.

In Oman on Saturday, the Tehran delegation is expected to be led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while the US delegation will be led by Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Iranian President Mazoud Pezeshkian reiterated today that Tehran is not seeking to obtain a nuclear bomb.

"We are not seeking a nuclear bomb," Pezeshkian assured, even hinting at the possibility of direct US investment in the Islamic Republic if both parties manage to reach an agreement.