Trump warns Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen"

HOUSTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that an Israeli strike on Iran "could very well happen," warning of a possible "massive conflict" in the Middle East.

"I don't want to say imminent, but it's something that could very well happen," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"They (the Israelis) didn't tell me anything, but I said look, there's a chance of massive conflict," Trump said.

The president said that "I don't want them going in" at a moment when direct talks between the United States and Iran are ongoing.

"I want to have an agreement with Iran. We're fairly close to an agreement... As long as I think there is an agreement, I don't want them going in because that would blow it."

One day earlier, the U.S. State Department ordered non-essential U.S. embassy staff and their dependents to leave Iraq due to unspecified security risks, while the Pentagon approved the voluntary departure of U.S. military dependents from the Middle East.

"We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, look, we gotta tell them to get out cause something could happen - soon," said Trump on Thursday.

"And I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings. It's possible", said the president. "Hopefully that doesn't happen."

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Sunday for a sixth round of nuclear talks. Enditem