Trump urges full evacuation of Tehran
Trump urges full evacuation of Tehran
Smoke rises following what Iran says was an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot in Tehran on Monday. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump on Monday urged residents of Tehran to leave, backing warnings from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has launched a massive attack on Iran.
"Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social account during a Group of Seven summit in Canada, without elaborating.
Nearly 10 million people live in the Iranian capital.
The warning comes as Israel ramps up attacks in Iran which it says are aimed at destroying the its contested nuclear work.
The Israeli military earlier issued a notice urging residents of one district of Tehran to evacuate, an echo of its tactics in Gaza where it has displaced most of the Palestinian population since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Trump has repeatedly declined to say if the United States would participate in Israeli military action, although he says it was not involved in initial strikes.
The White House said the US leader will leave the G7 summit on Monday night – a day early – due to the Israel-Iran war.
"Because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.
Trump earlier told reporters at the summit: "As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here." (AFP)
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