Trump says US knows where Khamenei is hiding, urges Iran's unconditional surrender
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US knows where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding during the Israel-Iran conflict but doesn't want him killed "for now.'
Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran's "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' as the five-day conflict continues to escalate.
"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding,' Trump added.
"He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.'
Trump's increasingly muscular comments towards Tehran come after urging Tehran's 9.5 million residents to flee for their lives as he cut short his visit to an international summit to return to Washington for urgent talks with his national security team.
Trump arrived at the White House early on Tuesday at a moment of choosing in his presidency. Israel, with five days of missile strikes, has done considerable damage to Iran and believes it can now deal a permanent blow to Tehran's nuclear programme - particularly if it gets a little more help from the Republican president.
But deepening American involvement, perhaps by providing the Israelis with bunker-busting bombs to penetrate Iranian nuclear sites built deep underground or offering other direct US military support, comes with enormous political risk for Trump.
Trump, as he made his way back to Washington, expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to reach an agreement.
He said he was now looking for "a real end' to the conflict and a "complete give-up' of Tehran's nuclear programme.
"They should have done the deal. I told them, 'Do the deal,'' Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
"So I don't know. I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate.'
Trump, who planned to meet with advisers in the Situation Room, appears to be gradually building the public case for a more direct American role in the conflict.
His shift in tone comes as the US has repositioned warships and military aircraft in the region to respond if the conflict between Israel and Iran further escalates.
The White House announced Monday, while Trump was at the Group of Seven summit in the Canadian Rockies, that he would cut his trip short.
"Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," he wrote on social media.
"I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!'
Asked about his evacuation comment aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters: "I just want people to be safe.'
"We're looking at better than a ceasefire. We're not looking for a ceasefire,' Trump said.
Trump said he wasn't ruling out a diplomatic option and he could send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with the Iranians.
He also dismissed congressional testimony from National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who told lawmakers in March that US spy agencies did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon.
"I don't care what she said," Trump said. "I think they were very close to having it.'
The Israelis say their offensive has eviscerated Iran's air defences and they can now strike targets across the country at will.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Israeli bombardment will continue until Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic missiles are destroyed.
So far, Israel has targeted multiple Iranian nuclear programme sites but has not been able to destroy Iran's Fordo uranium enrichment facility.
The site is buried deep underground - and to eliminate it, Israel may need the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode.
But Israel does not have the munition or the bomber needed to deliver it - the penetrator is currently delivered by the B-2 stealth bomber.
Israel's own defences remain largely intact in the face of Iran's retaliatory strikes, but some of Tehran's missiles are getting through and having deadly impact.
The White House dispatched Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for a prime-time TV appearance as speculation grows about whether Trump could be tilting toward more direct US involvement.
Hegseth told Fox News Channel that "of course' Trump wanted to see a deal made to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
"His position has not changed,' Hegseth said.
"What you're watching in real time is peace through strength and America first. Our job is to be strong. 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.'
Trump, meanwhile, during an exchange with reporters on the sidelines of the G7, declined to say what it would take for the US to get more directly involved.
Instead, he continued to press Iran on negotiations over its nuclear programme.
"They should talk, and they should talk immediately,'
Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added, "I'd say Iran is not winning this war.'
To be certain, Trump in the days-old conflict has sought to restrain Netanyahu.
He rejected a plan presented by Israel to the US to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a US official familiar with the matter, who was not authorised to comment on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Israelis had informed the Trump administration in recent days that they had developed a credible plan to kill Khamenei.
Trump bristled when asked about some of his MAGA faithful, including conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who have suggested that further US involvement would be a betrayal to supporters who were drawn to his promise to end US involvement in expensive and endless wars.
"Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that,' IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'' the president wrote on social media.
Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
15 minutes ago
- The National
President Sheikh Mohamed and Vladimir Putin discuss ways to contain conflict in region
President Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which ways to end the escalation of war in the region were discussed. The two leaders spoke of the grave implications for regional and global security, against the backdrop of the rising conflict between Israel and Iran, state news agency Wam reported on Wednesday. They discussed attempts being made to contain the situation and bring about de-escalation, stressing the importance of exercising restraint and pursuing dialogue to avoid further threats to security and stability, Wam said. Both Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Putin spoke of their support for all moves aimed at achieving a solution through diplomatic means. On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohamed held a phone call with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he expressed the UAE's solidarity with Tehran. Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE was engaging in intensive consultations to help de-escalate hostilities and restore stability in the region.
Middle East Eye
15 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Iran's medics fear 'another Gaza' as Israeli strikes overwhelm hospitals
Even as thousands of Iranians attempt to flee the capital Tehran in the wake of Israel's bombardment, many of those working in essential services have been forced to remain. Healthcare workers, working in a sector already battered by years of US sanctions, face a particular struggle to cope with the hundreds being killed and wounded on a daily basis. Golnaz, a 34-year-old woman living in Tehran with her husband Keyvan, dreads the sound of explosions getting closer and closer. "There's barely an hour without an explosion nearby. Every time, I look at my husband and ask, 'do you think we'll survive this?'" she told Middle East Eye. Golnaz and Keyvan have no choice but to stay - Keyvan, 39, is a nurse and has to show up for work every day. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'There's every kind of injury,' he said. 'Children, teenagers, adults, elderly… and the number just keeps rising every day.' He said the casualties so far have been 90 percent civilian. "The hospital is in a state of chaos," he said. "We're not short on staff yet, and we still have medical supplies and equipment, but there's a growing sense of psychological distress among both the medical team and the people. Everyone is anxious about what might happen next." Imitating Gaza? While Israel has claimed to be only targeting military sites, people in Tehran tell a different story. Afshin lost both his wife and young child in the strikes, which have so far killed at least 585 people according to rights groups. "When I left home that morning, I had no idea it would be the last time I'd see them. I was at work when I saw the news - Sohrevardi Street in central Tehran had been bombed," he said. "I immediately tried calling my wife, but no one answered. I rushed home as fast as I could, only to find that our apartment was now just a pile of rubble." Smoke plumes billow following an overnight Israeli strike on Tehran on 17 June 2025 (Atta Kenare / AFP) In 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally out of the nuclear deal signed by his predecessor Barack Obama and reimposed sanctions on Iran under the principle of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic Republic. Although there were ostensible exemption for humanitarian goods, rights groups said the sanctions heavily restricted Iran's ability to finance payment for essential medical goods. Last year the Iranian parliament's health committee said Iran faced shortages in as many as 300 medicines. Treatments for cancer, immunodeficiency disorders, multiple sclerosis, haemophilia and mental illnesses were among those hardest hit. 'Israel has shown time and again that it's willing to commit any crime, but then wraps it in a polished narrative to manipulate public opinion' - Keyvan, nurse in Tehran Though part of the blame has been levelled at the government over allegations of corruption and mismanagement, the ongoing pressure by the sanctions regime has played a major role. A total of $6bn in Iranian assets earmarked for humanitarian use - unfrozen and transferred to Qatar after a prisoner swap in 2023 - have been held up over Iran's alleged support for Hamas in Israel's war on Gaza. Keyvan said he feared Israel would repeat across Iran the kind of attacks that had been inflicted in Gaza, which have obliterated the enclave's healthcare system. He pointed to an attack on Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah on Monday. "Israel has shown time and again that it's willing to commit any crime, but then wraps it in a polished narrative to manipulate public opinion," he said. "What we witnessed in Gaza - the suffering of doctors and nurses - was a tragedy for all of us. We are colleagues across the world." Tehran exodus The Israeli military has been posting warnings on social media, advising residents of certain neighbourhoods to evacuate within hours or risk losing their lives, echoing similar actions in Lebanon and Gaza. But with war-time conditions and unstable internet access, many Tehran residents are unable to even see these warnings. 'I call on doctors and nurses everywhere to put themselves in our shoes and speak out' - Keyvan, nurse Meanwhile, the rush to leave has caused massive gridlock on highways heading out of the city in every direction. Mahsa and her husband Mehdi were initially hesitant to leave but finally decided on Tuesday to drive to Pardis, a small town near Tehran. 'My parents live there,' she said. 'So we decided to go stay with them. But it took us six hours to drive just 48 kilometers. The traffic was so horrible we honestly wanted to park the car on the highway and just sleep there.' Some Iranians critical of the Islamic Republic had hoped that Israel's strikes would only target government leaders. But many now feel abandoned and betrayed. "Netanyahu kept saying in speeches and interviews that they had nothing against the people of Iran, that they just wanted to go after regime officials,' said 31-year old Ali. Israeli attacks reawaken Gulf war trauma as Iranians attempt to flee Tehran Read More » 'I believed that - many of us did. But what I see now are residential buildings, offices, and hospitals being hit. I feel like we were lied to. He wants to turn us into another Beirut, another Gaza.' Iranians don't know how long the war will last. But many of them are just as angry at their own government as they are at Israel - for failing to protect them. A country that hasn't seen full-scale war in decades is now burning, and no one knows how far this fire will spread. As Keyvan and his wife settle down in Tehran for the long haul, he called for the world not to lose sight of medical workers like himself. "I call on doctors and nurses everywhere to put themselves in our shoes and speak out, so Israel cannot bring the same disaster it brought upon Gaza's medical staff to us here in Iran," he said.
The National
18 minutes ago
- The National
Rising Middle East tension a reminder that energy is a 'cornerstone of peace', Dr Al Jaber says
Rising tension in the Middle East is a reminder that energy is a 'cornerstone of peace, stability and ensuring prosperity', Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Adnoc's managing director and group chief executive, said on Tuesday. The war between Israel and Iran has sparked fears of a potential supply crisis in energy markets, with Brent oil prices rising above $75 a barrel on Tuesday. 'The UAE stands for dialogue, de-escalation and diplomacy,' Dr Al Jaber said during a keynote address at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Washington. Dr Al Jaber said countries must also remain focused on opportunities – chiefly the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector – as partners remain committed to dialogue and diplomacy. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who was scheduled to speak at Tuesday's forum, cancelled his appearance to assist President Donald Trump as the crisis worsens, the Atlantic Council's president said before Dr Al Jaber spoke. 'Once-in-a-generation' investment opportunity AI is "driving the next stage of evolution" and the advanced technology is driven by energy, he said. AI requires significant energy to be powered through data centres. The US will require between 50 and 150 gigawatts of new installed capacity and this demand brings a 'once-in-a-generation investment opportunity', Dr Al Jaber added. He said the UAE is 'wasting no time in taking our powerhouse energy partnership with the US to the next level'. 'The United States is not just a priority. It is more of an investment imperative. This is not just capital, it's conviction and a shared future, partners, colleagues and friends." Mariam Almheiri, head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court, said the UAE was "extremely excited" about its partnership with the US, as the Emirates continues to build its AI infrastructure. "We have built the bridges, built the right ingredients to help with this transformation," she said during a panel discussion. The UAE has announced a number of planned investments in the US since Mr Trump began his second term in January. Chief among those was a $1.4 trillion investment framework announced by the White House in March. During another panel on Wednesday, Emirates Nuclear Energy Company chief executive Mohamed Al Hammadi said he was "very bullish on the US market" because of the demand for electricity. Calling the US the "top innovator in the world", Mr Al Hammadi also noted the US's role as a leader in AI. During Mr Trump's visit to the UAE in May, Dr Al Jaber announced the UAE intends to boost its investment in the US energy sector to $440 billion by 2035 as part of that framework. The UAE will increase its US energy investments sixfold over the next decade through XRG, he said. XRG, Adnoc's global energy investment arm, signed an agreement with Occidental and subsidiary 1PointFive last month on a potential investment for a direct air capture project in Texas. XRG could invest up to $500 million in the project. US companies are also expected to invest up to $60 billion in UAE energy projects, including a field development plan with ExxonMobil and Japanese companies Inpex and Japan Oil Development Company to expand the capacity of Abu Dhabi's Upper Zakum offshore field. Adnoc and Occidental also agreed on a collaboration to potentially increase Shah Gas's production capacity from 1.45 billion to 1.85 billion standard cubic feet per day. Also in March, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ announced plans to invest more than $25 billion in mostly US-based energy projects to power data centres with US private equity firm Energy Capital Partners.
