Donald Trump urges all in Tehran to evacuate immediately

SBS Australia

10 hours ago

US President Donald Trump has posted a rather ominous message on Truth Social, telling everyone in Tehran to immediately evacuate. '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!' He is also cutting short his trip to the G7 summit to return to the United States where he is convening an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on Iran's state broadcaster and heavy damage to a uranium site have intensified the conflict, with Iran vowing further retaliation, while calling on the US to force a ceasefire in the four-day-old aerial war. Israeli forces have stepped up their bombardment of Iranian cities, while Iran proved capable of piercing Israeli air defences with one of its most successful volleys yet of retaliatory missile strikes. Among Israel's targets in Tehran was the state broadcaster's building. Television anchor Sahar Emami was on air when the blast forced her to flee. The station went off-air for some time, but has since resumed broadcasts. Israel says the strike was justified, accusing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of using the broadcaster's facilities to coordinate operations. But Iran sees it as a war crime. At the UN, Iran's Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani provided an update on the number of casualties. So far, 1480 people have been killed or injured. At least 224 civilians, including women and children, have been killed. Many of the victims are children. In one brutal attack on a residential building in Tehran around 20 children were martyred. ... Israel also targeted wider civilian and economic infrastructure: water storage, fuel depots, the petrochemical facilities, including the Asaluyeh refinery in Bushehr, were hit. Hospitals were also struck. They are not accident, they are war crimes." On the attack on the state broadcaster, Mr Iravani had this to say. "Just hours ago, Israeli regime deliberately targeted the office of Iran's News Agency during a live broadcast. This appalling attack constitutes a blatant war crime and a direct assault on press freedom. These Israeli regime has once again demonstrated that it is the foremost enemy of truth. It holds the disgraceful record of being the world's leading perpetrator of violence against journalists and media professionals." Iran responded with another barrage of long-range missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided this update on Israel's actions. "We struck at the beginning of the war with force, targeting some of the top scientists. So far, we have eliminated ten, and we are not stopping there. There are a few more, we will complete. We hit the nuclear facility, Iran's main enrichment center Natanz suffered a very severe blow. We have acted and continue to act against centrifuge production industries. We simply targeted uranium enrichment facilities that are essential for nuclear weapon development. We hit those too, and we are not stopping there. We continue to systematically destroy nuclear targets." Air-raid sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and Haifa, and at least eight Israeli civilians were killed bringing the total death toll to 24 people with over 590 injured. One missile reportedly landed near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, causing minimal damage to it. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon claimed Iranian missiles were targeting civilians directly. "Iran aims its missiles at children while we target the regime's terror machine. We will do everything we can to minimise civilian casualties... but as you said, it's a war." Despite air defences, Iranian missiles breached Israeli cities in one of the most intense retaliatory strikes yet. Across Haifa, several targets were struck including the port facility and residential buildings. Back in Tehran, images of smoke rising from high-rises and hospitals sparked panic. Crowds fled the city amid fuel shortages and long ATM queues. As the conflict escalates, Iran is now signalling a shift in its nuclear posture. At a press conference in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said politicians were drafting legislation that could lead to Iran's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: "We will certainly make the appropriate decision in light of recent developments. We are in close coordination with the parliament and, naturally, any decisions made by the parliament, according to the law, are binding for the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The proposals you mentioned are currently being drafted (referring to withdrawal of NPT), and we will definitely ensure the necessary coordination with the esteemed parliament during the drafting process." Iran joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970, pledging to forgo nuclear weapons in exchange for access to peaceful nuclear technology under international oversight. Israel accuses Tehran of nearing bomb capability, while President Masoud Pezeshkian says nuclear weapons remain forbidden under a religious edict by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. State media reports no decision has been made, with lawmakers saying the draft bill to exit the treaty is still in early stages. Meanwhile, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's actions and urged a return to negotiations. "Israel, which attacks Iran with the unlimited support from the West, destroys Gaza, and bullies every country in the region, is not aware of what it is doing. Perhaps it will realise its mistake in the future, but we are afraid that by then it will be too late." With diplomacy faltering, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have jointly called for a ceasefire. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Mr Trump urged Israel to de-escalate, while Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed further retaliation, with Tehran reportedly preparing its largest missile strike yet. The US has authorised the voluntary departure of embassy staff in Israel and ordered the USS Nimitz towards the Middle East. As missile strikes persist and the death toll rises, global appeals for peace are being drowned out by the escalating drumbeat of war.