President Donald Trump urged all of Iran's capital to evacuate “immediately,” saying in a social media post that Iran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. In leaving the G7 conference early, there are reports the president has called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council. That would suggest the crisis is becoming more intense.
Israel on Monday had warned about 300,000 people in Tehran to evacuate ahead of airstrikes. Israeli forces then struck Iran’s state-run television station during a live broadcast. Israel has been hitting Iran with airstrikes and drones throughout the day, while Iran fired a pre-dawn wave of missiles at Israel that killed at least eight people.
US Air Force moves refueling tanker aircraft to Middle East
The movements provide President Donald Trump additional options to defend U.S. bases and personnel in the region in wake of the ongoing ballistic missile attacks by Iran and Israel’s continued air operations against Tehran, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press.
The refueling tankers are vital to supporting any major U.S. air operation, whether it would be evacuations or a potential strike by U.S. fighter jets. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not announced publicly.
Hegseth headed to Situation Room
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is headed to the White House Situation Room to meet with President Donald Trump and his national security team amid tensions in the Middle East.
It comes as the U.S. has repositioned both warships and military aircraft in the region to respond if the conflict between Israel and Iran further escalates.
Hegseth didn’t provide details on what prompted the meeting but said on Fox News late Monday that the movements were to “ensure that our people are safe.”
Hegseth’s chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, tweeted that “American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture.” The U.S. has helped Israel shoot down Iranian missiles.
Trump demurs on US involvement on Iran
The U.S. president declined to answer what it would take for U.S. to be directly involved in the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, saying he did not want to talk about the issue.
Instead, he continued to press Iran on negotiations on its nuclear program.
“They should talk, and they should talk immediately,” Trump said during a bilateral meeting with the Canadian prime minister during the G7 summit.
Trump added: “I’d say Iran is not winning this war.”
G7
World leaders at the Group of Seven summit in Canada scrambled Monday to find a way to contain the conflict between Israel and Iran, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning that Tehran needs to curb its nuclear program before it’s “too late.”
The U.S. president said Iranian leaders would “like to talk” but they had already had 60 days to reach an agreement on their nuclear ambitions and failed to do so before an Israeli aerial assault began four days ago. “They have to make a deal,” he said.
By Monday afternoon, Trump warned ominously on social media: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Israel warns that anyone helping Iranian forces is a target, after striking state TV
Journalists at the United Nations are pressing Israel’s ambassador on why Iran’s state television was attacked.
His reply: “Whoever is cooperating with this terror regime should be considering steps,” adding that Israel now has “very good control over the skies of Tehran.”
Ambassador Danny Dannon sidestepped questions about U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi’s claim that Iran’s underground Natanz facility was untouched by Israeli strikes, but said Israel had “pushed back the nuclear program” and stressed the current operation is more complex than past strikes on reactors in Iraq or Syria.
As for peace talks, Danon said Iran must prove it’s serious about dismantling its “machine of terror” before Israel would engage.