NewYou can listen to Fox News articles now!
President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel's chief political host Bret Baier on Thursday that he knew Israel would launch a preemptive strike against Iran before it happened.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, we want to go back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are a few people in Iran that will not come back,” Trump said.
Israeli strike against Iran killed three senior military commanders in the country, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami, commander of Iranian armed forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and Iranian emergency commander Gholam-Alii.
In recent days, Trump has had several conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel strikes Iran as Trump administration seeks diplomatic solution
Trump told Fox News's Bret Baier that he knew Israel's plans to fire Iran before the incident. (Getty Image)
The Trump administration, with at least one major Middle East ally, reached out to acknowledge that the strike will take place, but said the United States was not involved in the strike.
A firefighter called his colleagues at the scene of an explosion in a residential compound in northern Iran on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
The president said he hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table, although Iran said it intends to withdraw from further negotiations. Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and his team plan to meet with their Iranian counterparts in Oman on Sunday.
This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran on May 20, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
Israeli forces used about 200 fighter jets to attack targets in Iran, destroying dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers and nuclear facilities. A few hours later, Iran fired about 100 retaliation drones at Israel, and Israeli forces said they were intercepting them.
In the early morning of June 13, 2025, it was allegedly rising in smoke from the wave of Israel's attack on Tehran, Iran. (St./Middle East image/AFP via Getty image)
Trump said he is paying attention to any retaliation and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is on high alert. He pointed out that if Iran retaliates, the United States is ready to defend itself and Israel. In recent weeks, the United States has added iron dome missiles.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The president is expected to attend a National Security Council meeting later on Friday.
Fox News's Jennifer Griffin contributed to the report.
