In a bold statement on Tuesday, President Donald Trump directly threatened Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting the possibility of military action against Iran while demanding an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.” Speculations are rife regarding Trump’s forthcoming strategy. This comes as Trump departed from the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, emphasizing a pressing focus on Iran as he returned to the United States.
Key highlights from Trump’s comments include a warning on Truth Social where he stated, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” in reference to Khamenei, who has faced increasing isolation following the assassination of several of his senior generals by Israel. He asserted that Khamenei is currently “safe” and clarified that the U.S. does not plan to eliminate him for the moment, while adding, “our patience is wearing thin.”
In an earlier post, Trump claimed, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” emphasizing the superiority of American military capabilities over Iranian defenses. He reiterated his demand for an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” in a third post that morning.
During a flight back from the summit, Trump expressed to reporters his desire to see an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting, “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate now.” He also issued a stark warning to Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or assets, declaring, “we’ll come down so hard, it’d be gloves off…I think they know not to touch our troops.”
Earlier, he criticized French President Emmanuel Macron on Truth Social for suggesting that Trump was returning from the G7 summit to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump clarified that his departure was for reasons tied to more significant issues and had nothing to do with fostering peace.
Additionally, Trump urged, “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON…Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” attributing the urgency to Iran’s refusal to sign a deal he proposed. He expressed his concern for civilian safety, stating, “I want people to be safe…That’s always possible something could happen.”
His comments followed Israeli military evacuation warnings affecting approximately 330,000 individuals in Tehran amid ongoing strikes, including one targeting the main compound of Iran’s state broadcaster.
Trump’s early exit from the G7 summit on Monday was attributed to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Just prior to his departure, he informed reporters that negotiations with Iran were expected to commence soon after his return to Washington.
On a diplomatic front, a U.S. official revealed that Trump initially refrained from endorsing a draft statement by G7 leaders that recommended de-escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. However, he eventually consented to sign it after making adjustments to the language, which reaffirmed the necessity for peace and stability in the region and denounced Iran as a principal source of instability.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated a possible readiness for talks with the U.S., contingent on a halt to Israeli military actions against Iran, stating, “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential.”
He challenged the U.S. to leverage its influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pave the way for diplomatic discussions, labeling Netanyahu a “war criminal.”