In a statement laced with menace and finality, US President Donald Trump warned Iran to “just do it” and strike a nuclear deal, hours after Israeli airstrikes killed several of Iran’s top military leaders and nuclear scientists in a dramatic escalation in the Middle East.Trump also warned Tehran saying that “the next already planned attacks” would be even more brutal if it didn’t agree to a nuclear deal.“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told... There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end.”Trump claimed Iran’s hardliners who had resisted previous peace overtures “are all DEAD now,” and urged Tehran to “Just do it, before it is too late.”He added, “There has already been great death and destruction… Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”His remarks came shortly after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “bitter and painful” response to the Israeli strikes, which Tehran called a “declaration of war.”Among the dead were Iran’s armed forces chief Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards head Hossein Salami. Six nuclear scientists were also reportedly killed, including at the Natanz enrichment facility.Israel said it deployed 200 fighter jets and confirmed it had targeted Iran’s core nuclear infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the strikes would “continue as many days as it takes,” accusing Tehran of nearing a nuclear weapons threshold.Iran’s Foreign Minister, in a letter to the UN, demanded an emergency response. Meanwhile, US officials maintained that they had no role in the Israeli operation, though Trump admitted to Fox News he had prior knowledge.“I told them it would be much worse than anything they know,” Trump said, boasting of US and Israeli military supremacy. “Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come, and they know how to use it.”Airports shut down, Gulf carriers suspended flights, and oil prices spiked. As the region braced for further fallout, Trump insisted diplomacy was still possible: “No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”‘No limits’ to response, says IranIran’s armed forces chief Mohammad Bagheri and Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami were among those killed in the strikes, which also claimed the lives of at least six nuclear scientists, according to Iranian media. Israel said it had struck over 100 targets across Iran, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming that “the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme” had been hit.Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a “bitter and painful” retaliation. In a letter to the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on the Security Council to address what he described as an act of war.Iran’s military warned there would be “no limits” to its response. State media reported civilian deaths, including women and children, and showed images of damaged buildings, including one in Tehran hit by what appeared to be a precision strike.Trump claims foreknowledgeTrump told Fox News he had prior knowledge of the Israeli strikes, which Israel said involved 200 fighter jets. Trump also stressed that Tehran "cannot have a nuclear bomb".Trump said he believed a nuclear deal with Iran was “fairly close” prior to the attack but admitted the Israeli action might have changed the calculus: “I don’t want them going in… Might help it actually, but it also could blow it.”Fallout spreadsIsrael declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace. Jordan intercepted drones and missiles that crossed into its airspace, while Iraq, Jordan, and Iran halted all commercial flights. Gulf airlines canceled operations in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport was shut, and long queues formed at petrol stations across the capital.The Israeli military said intelligence had shown Iran was nearing the “point of no return” in its nuclear ambitions. The IAEA confirmed Natanz was among the targets and said it was “closely monitoring” the situation.Wider war fearedThe attack comes amid ongoing regional hostilities, including Israel’s war in Gaza and skirmishes with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen. Netanyahu has pledged less restraint since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which Iran supported.The United States has drawn down staff from regional bases, wary of Iranian threats. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tehran against dragging Washington into the conflict, saying the US was not involved and should not be targeted.Despite the soaring tensions, Trump insisted a diplomatic path still exists, if Iran acts fast: “There is still time to make this slaughter… come to an end.”