
Pentagon chief says Trump still aiming for deal with Iran
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Monday that President Donald Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran even as hostilities have escalated between U.S. ally Israel and Tehran, while a White House aide said separately that Washington was not attacking Iran.
"Of course," Hegseth said on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime" show when asked if Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran.
"We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here," Hegseth said.

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Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump dramatically leaves G7 early as he urges Tehran to ‘evacuate immediately' sparking fears of major Iran escalation
DON AND DUSTED Trump dramatically leaves G7 early as he urges Tehran to 'evacuate immediately' sparking fears of major Iran escalation Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DONALD Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early, after warning "foolish" Iran to evacuate "everyone" from Tehran immediately, sowing fear a major escalation is imminent. Israel and Iran continued to trade missiles for a fourth night, with blasts heard in Tehran but no casualties reported by Tel Aviv. 7 Trump left the G7 summit early to attend to the Middle East crisis Credit: Getty 7 The roads out of Tehran were jammed with cars as Trump orders the city to evacuate Credit: Reuters 7 The Tehran bazaar stands shuttered and empty Credit: Polaris 7 Smoke billows after an Iranian missile struck an oil refinery in Haifa, northern Israel on Monday Credit: Reuters 7 Trump warned that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran' Credit: Truth Social Trump told reporters: "I have to be back as soon as I can," with the White House pinning his return on "what's going on in the Middle East". The President ordered his National Security Council to convene and await his return, though officials maintain that the US will not be joining Israel's bombing campaign on Iran. He had originally been scheduled to stay in Canada until late on Tuesday, but by midday Monday had begun signalling he would take flight early. As Monday night fell, Iran vowed to unleash continuous ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel "until the morning", though the damage appears limited. The IRGC's General Naeini said, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency: "The ninth wave of the combined drone and missile attack began and will continue continuously until the morning." Monday saw a major escalation in the brewing conflict with Israel directly targeting an Iranian state TV studio which was on air at the time. Israel accused Iran of using the building 'under the guise of civilian activity' as they claimed it was a military communication centre. Just moments after the blast, Iranian state media announced that Israel should prepare themselves for the "largest and most intense" missile attack in Israel's history. Only a handful of ballistic missiles were registered by Israel in the end with minimal damage reported. But damning satellite pictures have shown just how effective Israel's attacks have been since the conflict started on Friday. 7 The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ghadir site in Tehran has been obliterated by Israel in recent days Credit: AFP 7 Iran's nuclear infrastructure has been decimated by IDF jets who have hammered Iranian depots, HQs, and plants - turning the prized buildings into charred, burnt-out wrecks. Experts still believe Israel hasn't yet delivered a fatal blow to Iran's program with the international atomic body saying some sites are yet to be damaged. Israel now claims to have air superiority over the enemy which would allow it to methodically target any sites without the threat of having its jets shot down. A US aircraft carrier also is barrelling towards the Middle East after President Trump warned the "full strength and might" of the military would be used if America was attacked. The move piled more pressure on Iran's Ayatollah and comes as Iranians have been heard shouting "Death to Khamenei" - their supreme leader. Some Tehran locals could be heard yelling for freedom as bombs fell around them, footage posted to social media showed. Israel possibly may have widened its war goals to include overthrowing Khamenei, according to the Washington Post. Benjamin Netanyahu has also said that Iran is now "very weak" as he warned of an impending "regime change" in Tehran. Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed. Stay up to date with the latest on Israel vs Iran with The Sun's live blog below...


The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump leaves G7 early; Pheobe Bishop's remains identified; and lingering longer with art
Good afternoon. Donald Trump has dramatically left the G7 summit in Canada a day early to rush back to Washington, skipping meetings with leaders including Anthony Albanese. Trump's abrupt change in plans comes after a series of developments in the Israel-Iran conflict, with Trump and Israeli authorities warning residents in large parts of Tehran to evacuate before imminent bombing of 'military infrastructure'. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, claimed the US leader was returning to consider the prospects of a ceasefire deal between the two countries, but in a social media post Trump denied that was the case. His departure is a blow for Albanese, who had expected to hold his first face-to-face talks with the president, including covering trade issues and the US review of the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement. The federal opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said Albanese should have been 'more proactive' in securing a meeting. Pheobe Bishop: human remains found near Bundaberg confirmed as those of missing Queensland teenager Zachary Rolfe offered speaking services on 'leadership, ethical decision-making' for up to $10,000 Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 14 with attacks reported across Ukraine ABC investigates defence correspondent for allegedly not disclosing trip paid for by German ship builder Surge in death cap mushrooms in NSW and SA as scientists warn some deadly fungi look like supermarket varieties Man charged with murder after Leanne Akrap's body found in western Sydney bushland Israel's war with Iran: what does it want? It has been five days since Israel launched attacks on Iran and the war seems to be escalating. The civilian death toll is rising and Israeli forces have issued an evacuation order for parts of Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran has managed to evade Israel's defences with missiles. The Guardian's senior international correspondent, Julian Borger, explains to Michael Safi that Israel's war aims seem to have changed. 'She's told lies upon lies because she knew the truth would implicate.' – Nanette Rogers SC The lead prosecutor has finished her closing remarks to the jury in the triple murder trial of Erin Patterson in Morwell, Victoria. Catch up on all the day's developments. A major study by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, which surveyed almost 100,000 news consumers worldwide, has revealed a further diminishing of the influence of traditional news organisations, with social media overtaking television as a source of news in the US for the first time. Four in 10 people in the study's global sample also said they sometimes or often avoid the news – up from 29% in 2017 – the joint highest figure ever recorded. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Stop rushing through art galleries. Spend 10 minutes with just one masterpiece instead Science tells us art can expand our minds and bring us happiness. Australians are so lucky our public collections are free, writes Jane Howard – and here's one way to make the most of them. Today's starter word is: CITE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you'll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.


Times
26 minutes ago
- Times
Israel-Iran latest: Trump leaves G7 early, telling Iranians to evacuate Tehran
Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Tuesday. Air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the military warned of incoming Iranian missiles. 'A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,' the military said in a statement. The statement added that the air force was 'operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat.' Israel's military conducted 'several extensive strikes' on military targets in western Iran overnight. 'During the strikes, dozens of surface-to-surface missile storage and launch infrastructure were struck,' the military said in a statement. 'In addition, surface-to-air missile launchers and UAV storage sites were struck in western Iran,' it added. Footage accompanying the statement showed the moments surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile launchers were hit and another clip appeared to show a strike on a surface-to-air launcher holding three missiles. President Trump has said his reasons for leaving G7 were 'mistakenly' described by President Macron. The US leader said his early G7 exit had 'nothing to do' with an Israel-Iran ceasefire. Macron 'mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to DC to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday as he left the G7 summit in Canada to return to Washington. Macron had earlier put a positive interpretation on Trump's departure, saying the US president had made a proposal for a ceasefire in the Middle East. 'There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,' Macron told reporters. The Group of Seven nations expressed support for Israel in a statement issued late on Monday and labelled its rival Iran the 'principal source of regional instability and terror'. The group urged a de-escalation of the air war between Iran and Israel, which began on Friday when Israel attacked Iran with air strikes. 'We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,' G7 leaders said in the statement. 'Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror,' the statement added and said the G7 was 'clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon'. The US is reportedly discussing the possibility of a meeting this week between envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss a nuclear deal and an end to the war between Israel and Iran, Axios reported on Monday citing four sources briefed on the issue. Israel widened its bombing offensive against Iran on Monday, striking the state television building in Tehran. Flames leapt from the television building in north Tehran after the strike, which cut programmes just as a newsreader was lambasting Israel live on air. Iranian channels said a new salvo of missiles and drones had been launched towards Israel on Monday night. The regime's Revolutionary Guards threatened 'the largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil' in retaliation. They urged people in Tel Aviv to flee. Trump has hit back at those who support his own party calling on him not to involve the US any deeper in the conflict between Israel and Iran. 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday evening. Tucker Carlson urged that the US stay out of a fast conflict between Israel and Iran. 'I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,' Trump said during a meeting with the British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticised the handling of the Middle East crisis in a post defending Carlson. 'Foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction,' the Republican representative wrote on X. 'That's not kooky. That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First.' Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. President Trump pulled out of the G7 meeting a day early, on Monday night, saying he wanted to return to Washington to focus on the Middle East shortly after posting a warning for Tehran to evacuate. Trump's abrupt departure marks a dramatic rejection of efforts by the world's richest democracies to come together to push for de-escalation in the wars in Iran and Ukraine. He leaves behind a group of western leaders who were hoping Trump could have been persuaded to join them in putting diplomatic pressure on Israel.