President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration had been aware of Israel's planned attack of Iran.
Israel attacked Iran early in the day with a barrage of airstrikes that took out top military officers and scientists, and hit nuclear and missile sites.
During a brief phone call with The Wall Street Journal, Trump was asked what kind of heads-up regarding the attack Israel had given the U.S.
"Heads-up? It wasn't a heads-up. It was, we know what's going on," Trump told the newspaper.
Trump added that he planned to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later Friday.
Trump said Israel's operation had been "a very successful attack, to put it mildly."
Trump said he had tried to warn Iran about the urgency to sign a new nuclear weapons agreement.
"I told the other side, I said, you have 60 days to make the deal. On the 61st day, they attacked. Today is 61 actually, and it was a very successful attack," Trump said. "They should have made a deal and they still can make a deal while they have something left — they still can."
Trump was asked if the attack could affect the financial markets.
"I think, ultimately, it would be great for the market because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said. "It will be great for the market — should be the greatest thing ever for the market. Iran won't have a nuclear weapon that was a great threat to humanity."
During a brief phone call with CNN on Friday morning, Trump said the U.S. supported Israel and called the strikes on Iran last night "a very successful attack."
"We, of course, support Israel, obviously, and supported it like nobody has ever supported it," Trump said. "Iran should have listened to me when I said — you know I gave them, I don't know if you know, but I gave them a 60-day warning, and today is day 61."
Earlier on Truth Social, Trump urged Iran to reach a deal with Washington on its nuclear program, warning that Israel's attacks "will only get worse."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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