President Trump demanded unconditional surrender from Iran and warned its supreme leader that he was an “easy target” who would not be killed “at least for now”.
Increasing pressure on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while weighing up bombing raids on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Trump said America’s patience with the regime was running out. He aligned the United States with Israel, boasting that “we” have “total control of the skies over Iran”.
The comments served as a further warning to the ayatollah, a boast about the performance of Israeli-piloted and US-made F-35 fighter jets, and a signal to Trump’s isolationist America First voters that US airstrikes were on the table.
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While the president spent most of the day in the White House situation room, Israel said Iran’s military leadership was “on the run” after Ali Shadmani, its new chief, was killed in Israeli airstrikes four days after his predecessor.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump posted. “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.”
Khamenei later wrote on X: “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime.
We will show the Zionists no mercy.”
Trump spoke to Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, on Tuesday night and was earlier said to be considering a range of options, including direct US military strikes in support of Israel.
JD Vance, the vice-president, posted a long explanation on X about why direct military involvement was being considered as opposed to diplomacy.
“The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment … He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” Vance, who has long opposed becoming embroiled in foreign wars, wrote.
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“He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” added Vance, who has long opposed becoming embroiled in foreign wars. “I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals.”
Explosions were heard over Tehran after dark as Israel continued its strikes for a fifth successive day. At least 60 Israeli air force jets carried out “an extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran”, targeting ballistic missile launchers which were aimed at Israel, according to the country’s military.
The IDF also issued an evacuation warning for Tehran’s District 18, near the city’s international airport, early on Wednesday.
Iran in turn fired further salvos against Israel. Blasts sounded over Tel Aviv just before 1am local time on Wednesday and about 20 minutes later, as Israeli interceptor missiles streaked across the night sky. Bright flashes were visible over the city’s skyline from the upper floor of a multi-storey hotel, seconds before a loud boom.
It was not immediately clear if any Iranian missiles had impacted or if they were destroyed by Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system. Inside the hotel, guests took refuge in a shelter and in stairwells before the all clear was given.
Trump withdrew a day early from the G7 in Canada, where he was surrounded by leaders urging restraint. As he left, he slapped down President Macron, calling him “publicity-seeking”, and adding that he “mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to DC to work on a ‘ceasefire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong!”
Trump said he was working on something “much bigger than that”, having warned earlier: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Lengthy traffic jams were seen trying to leave the Iranian capital as the exchange of missiles continued. At least 15 Iranian missiles were launched at Israel on Tuesday night, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.
On the sidelines of the G7, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, raised the possibility of the US joining Israel’s strikes but said the White House had not made a final decision. Merz told Die Welt: “We’ve spoken about it but the American government clearly hasn’t made a decision yet. It now very much depends on the extent to which the mullahs’ regime is ready to return to the negotiating table.”
Starmer, on the other hand, insisted Trump had not indicated he was about to attack Iran. “There’s nothing the president said that suggests that he’s about to get involved in this conflict — on the contrary,” he said. He pointed to a G7 statement before Trump’s departure, which talked of “de-escalation of hostilities” in the Middle East.
Starmer said there was “complete agreement” about the need to prevent Iran from getting the bomb: “We are deeply concerned about the programme. I certainly do not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
A US military source said Trump’s post about control of the skies over Iran was the president “taking credit for the F-35’s performance” and did not indicate the US would get involved in the war. It is understood senior military figures do not believe killing the supreme leader would lead to regime change in Iran.
As Israel continued its strikes for a fifth successive day, at least 60 Israeli air force jets carried out “an extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran”, targeting ballistic missile launchers which were aimed at Israel, according to the country’s military. Predatory Sparrows, a cyberhacker group previously associated with Israel, penetrated Iran’s Sepah bank, which has connections to the Revolutionary Guard.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Iran’s own forces had withdrawn from the west of the country to central areas due to the deadly strikes, which have also targeted nuclear facilities and a state television channel.
“Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American-made, conceived and manufactured stuff. Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He has authorised a further build-up of US forces to the Middle East and was said to be considering options including a direct strike on an Iranian nuclear site possibly using the so-called bunker buster system. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its escorting warships were turned back towards the Gulf from the South China Sea, while more fighter jets and support aircraft were ordered to the region.
Iran hit back at Israel, meanwhile, firing at least two barrages of missiles, prompting air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across the country. The IDF said they intercepted most and there were no reports of damage or casualties.
Separately, the International Atomic Energy Agency revised its assessment of the effects of strikes on the uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz, Iran’s second main nuclear site, saying some “direct” damage had been caused. It is the underground uranium enrichment site of Fordow, northeast of the city of Qom, that is of greater concern to Israel, however. with Oofficials and observers both indicated it had not been hit.
Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said Fordow was among ten targets of Iran’s nuclear programme that would “certainly” be addressed.
On his return from Canada, Trump told reporters that he might send Vance or his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to hold further talks with the Iranians, who are still asking for a ceasefire and negotiations. However, he suggested he had lost patience with Tehran. “They should have done the deal,” he said. “I told them, ‘Do the deal’. So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
John Healey, the defence secretary, suggested British combat jets could be deployed to help protect Israel from attacks by Iran.
