UN Security Council to meet on Iran on Friday

US President Donald Trump praised Israel’s strikes on Iran as "a very successful attack" and warned Tehran to return to negotiations before it is too late, during a phone interview with CNN journalist Dana Bash on Friday.

Trump expressed strong support for Israel’s military actions against Iran. "We of course support Israel, obviously and supported it like nobody has ever supported it," Trump said.

He said that Iran had ignored a 60-day ultimatum he had previously issued. "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."

Trump cautioned that Tehran must now "come to the table to make a deal before it’s too late. It will be too late for them. You know the people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners.”

Responding to whether these deaths were the result of Israel’s strikes, Trump replied sarcastically, "They didn’t die of the flu; they didn’t die of Covid."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold calls with US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer following overnight strikes on Iran, Ynet reported Friday, citing a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Netanyahu has already spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and French President Emmanuel Macron. According to the statement, the leaders “expressed understanding for Israel’s defense needs against Iran’s threat of annihilation.”

The Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu would maintain close contact with international leaders in the coming days.

Iran, Iraq and Jordan closed their airspace and Israel shut its main airport on Friday after Israeli strikes disrupted global aviation.

Thousands of flights were cancelled or diverted, with Eurocontrol estimating at least 1,800 affected in Europe alone.

Airlines including El Al, Air France, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Qatar Airways suspended or rerouted operations.

Shares in major carriers fell, and oil prices surged amid fears of escalation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint phone call on Friday to discuss Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s military response, a German government spokesperson said.

The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as tensions escalate.

Hamas said on Friday that Iran was "paying the price" for supporting Palestinian resistance groups, following Israel’s large-scale strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

In a statement, the Palestinian Islamist group praised Iran’s longstanding financial and military support, calling the attacks a response to Tehran’s steadfast backing of the Palestinian cause.

Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Ubaida said the group stood by Iran, warning that Israel's actions would only hasten its "inevitable demise."