Trump weighs US military options as Iran warns against intervention

(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump dodged questions Wednesday about striking Iran amid escalating attacks in the Middle East.

"I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," Trump said. "I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble."

Trump called the Islamic Republic "totally defenseless," adding that "61 is going to be a famous number," in reference to the 60 days he had given Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal.

Though he refused to say whether the U.S. military would get directly involved in the coming days, Trump told reporters, "Next week is going to be very big. Maybe less than a week."

Iran warns against US intervention in Israel conflict

Iran and Israel traded missile fire overnight and into Wednesday, marking the sixth day of attacks between the countries as the United States seems poised for possible intervention.

All options remain on the table for Trump, and he is in constant contact with his national security team, an administration official told NewsNation. 

Iran’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said direct involvement from the U.S. could lead to “all-out war.”

As the U.S. shifted warplanes and ships to the Middle East on Tuesday, Trump touted control of Iran's skies and called for its "unconditional surrender."

On Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected that demand and voiced suspicion of U.S. involvement in "the malicious move carried out by the Zionist regime."

"What should the Iranian nation surrender to? We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone," Khamenei said on social media. "This is the logic of the Iranian nation. This is the spirit of the Iranian nation."

In a separate post, Khamenei warned: "The US entering in this matter [war] is 100% to its own detriment. The damage it will suffer will be far greater than any harm that Iran may encounter."

Bipartisan pushback to potential US involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

One of Trump’s most loyal backers spoke out Wednesday against U.S. intervention in the conflict.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said on social media that getting involved is not in America's best interest.

"Americans want cheap gas, groceries, bills, and housing. They want affordable insurance, safe communities, and good education for their children. They want a government that works on these issues," Greene's post reads. "Considering Americans pay for the entire government and government salaries with their hard earned tax dollars, this is where our focus should be. Not going into another foreign war."

Former Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told NewsNation on Wednesday that Trump views the situation as an opportunity to take out Iran's nuclear threat, though he contended some of Trump's threats have divided the Republican Party.

"Iran is a threat both to Israel and to the United States, and we need to look at our best option now to make sure they don’t develop that nuclear capability," Hutchinson said on "Morning in America."

On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced he would introduce a resolution to prevent U.S. involvement in Iran.

“This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution. I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement,” Massie said. “I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution.”

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said that he would co-lead the resolution with Massie.

Israel, Iran trade attacks as casualties mount

Israel sent a barrage of attacks on Wednesday morning, according to a post from the Israeli Air Force on the social platform X: "The Air Force identified and attacked five Iranian AH-1 combat helicopters at a military base in the Kermanshah area. These helicopters were intended to target Air Force aircraft operating in Iranian airspace."

NewsNation crews in Tel Aviv observed an active night in the Middle East. Within the span of one hour, Iran fired two separate missile salvos, causing millions to take shelter.

Though Iran's attacks remain frequent, the missiles used are growing smaller. The Israelis contend this is because their Air Force is degrading Iran's capabilities, pushing their ballistic launch sites out of the west towards central Iran.

Iranian leadership has rejected that premise, saying their capabilities have not been degraded but that they are holding back. Officials warned that if Israel does not relent, Iran will up its strikes from a level of deterrence to what they describe as "punitive" to major population centers.

Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Abdolrahim Mousavi issued a warning to Israeli residents to evacuate Haifa and Tel Aviv “for their own safety and not to become victims of Netanyahu’s barbaric actions.”

Iran has fired approximately 400 missiles and hundreds of drones in retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 24 people in Israel and wounded hundreds.

Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 585 people, including 239 civilians, have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded by Israeli attacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.