On Wednesday, President Donald Trump left the door open for the possibility of U.S. military strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. This announcement came just hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a stark warning, stating that any U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel would lead to “serious irreparable consequences.”
The conflict between Iran and Israel reignited last Friday when the Israeli military conducted unilateral strikes targeting critical nuclear facilities. The strikes resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the actions as a necessary act of self-defense, claiming that the Iranian nuclear program posed an existential threat to Israel.
In response to the escalating situation, Trump abruptly departed the G7 summit in Canada earlier than planned, citing the urgent developments in the Middle East as the reason for his early exit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump left to attend to pressing matters related to the crisis.
Before leaving the summit, Trump issued a chilling warning to residents of Tehran via Truth Social: “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON…Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Although he did not clarify the reasoning behind this evacuation order, he later reiterated his concern for civilian safety, stating, “I just want people to be safe.”
Upon his return to Washington aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed his desire for a definitive resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that he wanted “an end. A real end, not a ceasefire.” He indicated that he would only accept a complete surrender from Iran.
In a previous post, Trump declared, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.” He stated that while Iran possesses some defensive equipment, it pales in comparison to the advanced military technology produced in the U.S. Trump emphasized, “Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.” Additionally, he demanded an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” from Iran, reiterating that any attack on U.S. personnel or assets would result in a severe response.
While en route back to the U.S., Trump indicated he was not inclined to negotiate at that moment. He criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, who had suggested that Trump’s early departure was aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump refuted this claim, stating that his intentions were “much bigger than that.”
Before leaving Canada, Trump hinted to reporters that he had plans to address the situation with Iran upon returning to Washington. Reports indicated that he requested the presence of his national security team in the Situation Room as soon as he arrived back.
Initially, Trump was reluctant to sign a draft statement from the G7 leaders that called for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. However, after modifications to the statement's language, he agreed to endorse it. The final statement reaffirmed the leaders' commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East, recognized Israel's right to defend itself, and condemned Iran as the "principal source of regional instability and terror."
In light of the continued hostilities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed a willingness to resume talks with the U.S. if Israeli military actions were halted. He stated, “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential.” Araghchi emphasized that a single phone call from Washington could potentially curb Israeli aggression, paving the way for renewed diplomatic discussions.
As the situation develops, the international community remains on high alert, closely monitoring the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, and the implications for global security.
