ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Iran that it "must make a deal, before nothing is left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire."

"No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," Trump wrote on Truth Social the morning after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, killing military leaders and scientists alike.

Stating that he "gave Iran a chance" for diplomacy, Trump added that despite "how close they got, they just couldn't get" a deal done.

Saying that he told Iranian officials that the situation would deteriorate "much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told," he added that the US "BY FAR" produces the world’s most advanced and powerful military equipment and possesses "a lot of it."

"They (Israel) also have the capability and readiness to deploy it effectively," the US president said.

"Certain Iranian hardliner’s [sic] spoke bravely" before the recent events unfolded, said Trump, adding: "They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse."

In the wake of "the great death and destruction" in Iran, there is still a window of opportunity to halt "this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal," Trump said.

Israel launched a sweeping military operation against Iran early Friday, with 200 planes targeting its nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities. Senior military officials and nuclear scientists were killed in the attack.