Trump says he is “not happy” with the talks with Iran but will wait to see what happens in the next rounds

TEL AVIV, Israel – US President Donald Trump said Friday that he is “not happy” with the talks with Iran so far but will wait to see what happens in additional rounds of negotiations with the Middle Eastern country over its nuclear program.

“I’m not happy about the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we should have,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. “I’m not happy about that. We’ll see what happens. We’ll talk later.” “We’re not completely satisfied with the way they’re negotiating. They can’t have nuclear weapons,” Trump said.

Read more: The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency says it is unable to verify whether Iran has halted all uranium enrichment activities.

Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after their latest nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday failed to reach a breakthrough, and with US forces gathering in the region.

Trump threatened to take military action if Iran did not agree to a far-reaching agreement to restrict its nuclear program. Iran insists that it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking to possess a nuclear weapon.

Trump was asked about the risks of the United States becoming embroiled in a long-term conflict in the Middle East if it launched strikes on Iran.

“I guess you could say there’s always risk,” Trump responded. “You know, when there’s war, there’s a risk that anything can happen, whether good or bad.”

Earlier Friday, the US State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick visit to Israel early next week. The US Embassy in Israel had previously urged staff who wished to leave to do so, joining other countries in encouraging people to leave the area and indicating that US military action may be imminent. The announcement of Rubio’s visit may indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike.

Read more: Rubio intends to visit Israel next week as tensions continue between the United States and Iran after the recent talks

Meanwhile, a confidential report from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran has not allowed inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed during the 12-day war launched by Israel last June. As a result, it said it could not confirm Iran’s claims that it had halted uranium enrichment after the US and Israeli strikes.

The report was distributed to member states and viewed by The Associated Press.

Those wishing to leave must do so today

The State Department said in a statement that Rubio will visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday “to discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.” No other details were provided.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long urged tougher US action against Iran, and warned that Israel would respond to any Iranian attack.

The announcement of Rubio’s visit came just hours after the US Embassy in Jerusalem implemented “authorized departure” status for non-essential employees and their family members, meaning eligible employees can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

In an email, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged employees considering leaving to do so quickly, advising them to initially focus on any flight departing from Israel and then proceed to Washington.

“Those who wish to take AD should do so today,” Huckabee wrote, using an abbreviation for “authorized departure.”

“Although there may be foreign flights in the coming days, there may not be,” he added in an email to The Associated Press by a person involved in the US mission who was not authorized to share details.

At a town hall meeting on Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff he was encouraging airlines to keep flying.

Vance to meet the mediator

On Thursday, Iran and the United States withdrew from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without reaching an agreement. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week.

US Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to meet later Friday in Washington with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks, according to a person familiar with the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is private.

Earlier, Al Busaidi said that significant progress had been made on Thursday, although officials from Iran and the United States had not announced steps forward.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that “what should happen has been clearly explained on our part,” without providing details. Iran has long demanded relief from stringent international sanctions in exchange for taking steps to limit, not end, its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General urged Iran and the United States to “focus on the diplomatic track” even as tensions rise and the possibility of a US strike remains very possible.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric: “We see two positive messages coming out of diplomatic channels, which we continue to encourage.” “We are also seeing very worrying military movements throughout the region, which is also very worrying.”

Flights were suspended as people were urged to leave

The United States has amassed a huge fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and another headed to the region. Iran says it will respond to any American attack by targeting American forces in the region, including those stationed at American bases in allied Arab countries.

Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.

The British Foreign Office said: “Due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran.” She added that the embassy is working remotely.

In Israel, the United Kingdom said on Friday that it had transferred some diplomatic staff and their families from Tel Aviv to another unspecified location in Israel “as a precautionary measure.” In an update to travel advice, the Foreign Office added that the country’s embassy in Tel Aviv was operating as usual, but the situation “could escalate rapidly and pose significant risks.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that the United Kingdom is focusing on “supporting the political process” between Washington and Tehran.

Australia on Wednesday “ordered the departure of all families of Australian officials present in Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.” China, India and several European countries with missions in Iran have advised their citizens to avoid traveling to the country.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also advised its nationals already in Iran to leave, according to a statement published by Chinese state media.

Metz reported from Ramallah and the West Bank and Lee from Washington. Sung Min Kim in Washington, Stephanie Lichtenstein in Vienna, Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations, Karim Chehayeb in Beirut, and Pangiotis Bellas in London contributed to this report.