Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz have urged residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately, citing severe consequences if the conflict continues. This call for evacuation follows a series of intensifying messages from President Trump, as well as a growing concern that the United States might soon be involved in the ongoing conflict.
On Tuesday, Katz reiterated the urgency of evacuation, following President Trump’s stern warnings the day before. President Trump emphasized his reluctance to negotiate and stressed that a resolution better than a ceasefire was necessary. He took to social media to underscore that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons, repeating his earlier calls for an evacuation. “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he stated on Truth Social.
The conflict, now in its fifth day, shows no signs of de-escalation as Israel continues its offensive operations. President Trump clarified his stance by denying reports that he had reached out to Tehran for a ceasefire, insisting that any negotiations should have taken place earlier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with ABC News, suggested that targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was considered an option to end the conflict, suggesting it would not escalate but rather conclude hostilities. This sentiment was echoed by Katz, who likened Khamenei’s potential fate to that of Saddam Hussein, executed after the Iraq War.
With the situation worsening, the European Union, led by foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, has initiated its citizen protection mechanism to facilitate evacuations. Kallas assured that efforts were being coordinated to ensure the safety of EU citizens wishing to leave the region.
Despite Israel’s claims of controlling Tehran’s airspace, the Iranian leadership has vowed a “more severe and powerful response,” threatening to expand the war by targeting Israel’s allies. As the situation remains precarious, both sides continue to exchange threats, with the international community closely monitoring the escalating crisis.
