'Will come down so hard': Trump's big warning to Iran; says looking for 'real deal' not ceasefire
As the Middle East teeters on the edge of a wider war, US President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to Iran: 'Not to touch our troops.'
Speaking aboard Air Force One en route back to Washington, Trump said he was not in the mood for peace talks and hinted at a harsher American response if provoked.
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'We'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off,' he said.
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump doubled down: 'I have not reached out to Iran for 'Peace Talks' in any way, shape, or form… They should have taken the deal that was on the table, would have saved a lot of lives!!!'
His comments come amid dramatic developments on the ground. Iran's capital, Tehran, is showing signs of panic. Long lines have formed at gas stations, the historic Grand Bazaar is shuttered, and thousands are reportedly fleeing west toward the Caspian Sea.
Though no official evacuation order has been issued, Israel's warning for 300,000 residents to leave the city ahead of potential airstrikes has heightened tensions.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims it has assassinated Gen. Ali Shadmani, a high-ranking commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard. Iran has not confirmed the death.
Trump's hardline stance appears to be supported by military moves. The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is en route to the region, and US missile-defense ships in the eastern Mediterranean have already intercepted rockets aimed at Israel over the weekend.
Allies call for restraint
European leaders, including France, Germany, and the UK, are scrambling to calm the crisis. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Iran to return to talks 'without conditions' and warned against nuclear escalation or withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also urged a return to diplomacy during her meeting with Trump at the G7 summit in Canada, even as Trump denied reports he had cut his trip short to work on a ceasefire.
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'Much bigger than that,' he posted on Truth Social.
India begins evacuations; Arab states condemn escalation
India confirmed that it has begun evacuating students and nationals from Tehran, urging others to leave via Armenia. Meanwhile, 20 countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, issued a joint statement condemning Israel's 'aggression' and calling for an immediate ceasefire and regional nuclear disarmament.
G7 issues stark warning
G7 leaders released a joint statement emphasizing that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.
'We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself… Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror,' the statement read.
But for now, Iran says it won't negotiate while under attack. And Trump, when asked whether a diplomatic mission involving Vice President Vance and businessman Steve Witkoff might be dispatched, replied: 'Depends on what happens when I get back.'
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