Trump urges Tehran evacuation as Iran-Israel conflict enters fifth day
Israel and Iran attacked each other for a fifth day in a row on Tuesday and US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he said was the country's rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development.
World leaders meeting at the G7 summit in Canada called for a de-escalation of the worst conflict between the regional foes, saying Iran must never have a nuclear weapon while affirming Israel's right to defend itself.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump, who was leaving the summit a day early due to the Middle East situation, had proposed a ceasefire for Iran and Israel.
'There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions. I think this is a good thing,' Macron told reporters. 'So now we need to see what the stakeholders will do.'
Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.
'Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform on Monday.
Axios reported the White House is discussing with Iran the possibility of a meeting this week between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. Reuters couldn't immediately verify details of the Axios report.
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, while adding the US would defend its assets in the region.
Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defence fire in Tehran early on Tuesday, with smoke rising in the city's east after an explosion of suspected Israeli projectiles. Air defences were activated also in Natanz, home to key nuclear installations 320km away, the Asriran news website reported.
Late on Monday, Israel said it hit Iran's broadcasting authority and footage showed a newsreader hurrying from her seat as a blast struck. Iranian state TV said the strike killed two people.
In Israel, air raid sirens wailed in Tel Aviv after midnight but there were no reports of missile strikes.
Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, in five days, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said nearly 3,000 Israelis had been evacuated due to damage from Iranian strikes.
Sources told Reuters Tehran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional sources.
'If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,' Araghchi said on X. 'Israel must halt its aggression and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.'
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.
Oil prices rallied more than 2% early in Asia on Tuesday after Trump's evacuation warning, reversing losses on Monday amid reports that Iran was seeking an end to hostilities.
With security concerns growing and Israeli airspace closed because of the war, the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its citizens to leave the country via land border crossings as soon as possible.
The Iran-Israel air war — the biggest battle between the two longtime enemies — escalated on Monday with Israel targeting Iran's state broadcaster and uranium enrichment facilities.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the BBC the Natanz plant sustained extensive damage, probably destroying 15,000 centrifuges, while Iran's Fordow plant remained largely intact.
Talks between the US and Iran, hosted by Oman, had been scheduled for June 15 but were scrapped, with Tehran saying it could not negotiate while under attack.
Israel launched its air war with a surprise attack that has killed nearly the entire top echelon of Iran's military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. It says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in the coming days.
Trump has consistently said the Israeli assault could end quickly if Iran agreed to US demands that it accept strict curbs on its nuclear programme.
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