The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.
Witkoff: US ‘red line’ is no ‘weaponization’ of Iran’s nuclear program
US President Donald Trump’s globe-trotting special envoy Steve Witkoff sounds a note of flexibility before meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Saturday for nuclear negotiations.
Witkoff tells the Wall Street Journal that “our position today” starts with demanding that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program — a view of hardliners around Trump that few expect Iran would ever accept.
“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries,” Witkoff tells the newspaper.
“Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability,” Witkoff adds.
Houthis claim responsibility for launching two drones at ‘military targets’ in Tel Aviv area
The Houthi rebels in Yemen take responsibility for launching two drones at Israel this evening, claiming to have targeted two “military targets” in the Tel Aviv area.
According to the IDF, one drone was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. The second drone did not reach Israel.
White House: All options on table for Iran over nuclear program
US President Donald Trump wants Iran to know that “all options are on the table” for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons ahead of talks on Saturday between US and Iranian delegations, his press secretary tells reporters.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says that Trump’s “ultimate objective is to ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon” and that Trump believes in diplomacy.
“But he’s made it very clear to the Iranians and his national security team will as well, that all options are on the table, and Iran has a choice to make. You can agree to President Trump’s demand, or there will be all hell to pay, and that’s how the president feels. He feels very strongly about it,” she says.
Leavitt insists that the talks with Iran will be direct — something Tehran has denied.