President Donald Trump declared the U.S. would not kill Iran’s supreme leader “for now,” while seemingly demanding Tehran’s surrender as Israel and Iran exchanged fire for a fifth day.
This escalated Trump’s rhetoric against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising questions about potential US involvement in Israel’s ongoing attacks.
Israeli warplanes reportedly targeted Iranian drone and missile sites in western Iran with strikes on Tuesday, also claiming to have killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani in Tehran.
These attacks prompted retaliatory fire from Iran, with explosions reported over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and air raid sirens near Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant.
Days after a US official indicated Trump advised against assassinating Khamenei, the president posted on Truth Social: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”
He added, “Our patience is wearing thin,” and later posted “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Trump’s National Security Council met to discuss the conflict, which began Friday with Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.
Despite de-escalation calls, neither side has backed down.
Iranian media reported explosions in Isfahan and Tehran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned Israeli residents to evacuate and launched attacks targeting Israeli air bases.
Both countries have suffered deadly strikes in residential areas, prompting foreign evacuations.
A cyberattack reportedly crippled Iran’s Sepah Bank.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced “additional capabilities” deploying to the Middle East, with a US aircraft carrier reportedly en route.
China accused Trump of “pouring oil” on the conflict, and Turkish President Erdogan labeled Netanyahu “the biggest threat to the security of the region.”
G7 leaders had called for “de-escalation” while affirming Israel’s right to self-defense and stating “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Israel’s campaign aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an ambition Tehran denies.
The UN nuclear watchdog noted “direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls” at Iran’s Natanz facility.
The conflict disrupted nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Trump’s role in restarting diplomacy and warned against attempts at regime change in Iran, citing potential “chaos.”
Since Friday, over 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, while Iran reported 224 killed as of Sunday.
Netanyahu stated Israel’s campaign was “changing the face of the Middle East,” potentially leading to “radical changes inside Iran itself.”
