As the Israel-Iran war entered its fifth day, U.S. President Donald Trump said he is seeking a “real end” to the Iranian nuclear crisis and signaled potential high-level talks with Tehran, even as Israeli leaders ramped up threats against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Speaking after his early departure from the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said he may dispatch Vice President J.D. Vance or Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to explore diplomatic options. But with airstrikes continuing and Israel pledging escalation, the path to negotiations remains uncertain.
“You’ll see what happens over the next two days,” Trump said. “Nobody’s slowed down so far.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz directly warned Khamenei, comparing his fate to that of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. “I warn the Iranian dictator: stop your war crimes or face consequences,” Katz said. Minutes later, explosions were reported in Tehran.
Israel’s air campaign has already killed much of Iran’s top military leadership, including wartime chief of staff Ali Shadmani—appointed just four days earlier—and key Revolutionary Guard officials. Intelligence leaks suggest Khamenei’s inner circle is in disarray, with advisers lost and decision-making compromised.
Khamenei’s regional standing has suffered since Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel triggered the Gaza war. With Iran’s proxies—from Hezbollah to Yemen’s Houthis—under sustained Israeli attack and Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad ousted, Tehran’s influence has visibly eroded.
Still, Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. While most were intercepted, Israeli officials said 35 struck targets, killing 24 civilians and injuring more than 640. Iran reports at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, from Israeli airstrikes.
Israel says its war aims are clear: neutralize Iran’s nuclear program. It has struck major facilities, including the Fordow and Natanz enrichment sites. The UN’s atomic watchdog, the IAEA, confirmed damage to underground halls at Natanz and accused Iran of breaching nuclear commitments for the first time in two decades.
Trump maintains that a peaceful end is possible if Iran agrees to strict curbs on enrichment. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and defends its program under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel, not a signatory, is believed to possess nuclear arms but maintains ambiguity.
The conflict has also shaken global energy markets. Two tankers collided near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday amid rising electronic interference. No injuries or spills were reported, but tension remains high in a region that handles one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
Qatar warned that Israel’s strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field—shared with Doha and temporarily shut down—risked destabilizing global energy flows.
As the war escalates, Netanyahu has vowed not to stop until Iran’s nuclear ambitions are dismantled. Trump, though signaling pressure, insists diplomacy remains on the table. “Something much bigger” is coming, he posted on Truth Social—leaving both allies and adversaries guessing what that means.
