U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to evacuate Tehran amid escalating strikes between Israel and Iran, marking the fifth consecutive day of the most intense confrontation ever witnessed between the two regional powers.
Speaking from the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, President Trump warned that Iran’s refusal to accept restrictions on its nuclear program was endangering lives. He reiterated that “Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon” and said the ongoing conflict could end immediately if Tehran made “the right choice.”
The crisis dominated discussions at the summit, where world leaders jointly called for an immediate de-escalation. They reaffirmed their opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran and backed Israel’s right to self-defence, describing the Islamic Republic as a destabilizing force in the region.
Trump abruptly left the G7 summit, citing the escalating Middle East crisis, though he denied French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that the U.S. had initiated a ceasefire proposal. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding, “It certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that.”
Earlier, Trump had issued a stark online warning: “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Despite the heated rhetoric, reports by Axios suggest the U.S. may still be exploring diplomatic backchannels. A potential meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reportedly under discussion, though Reuters could not independently verify the claim.
Meanwhile, Iran reported a fresh wave of Israeli missile strikes early Tuesday, with explosions rocking eastern Tehran and activating air defences in Natanz—a key nuclear site. Israeli forces also targeted Iran’s state broadcasting authority; televised footage showed a presenter fleeing mid-broadcast as an explosion hit the studio, killing at least three.
In Israel, air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Herzliya, with several buildings damaged by retaliatory Iranian strikes. The death toll continues to rise, with Iranian authorities reporting 224 fatalities—mostly civilians—since the onset of hostilities, while Israel has recorded 24 civilian deaths and evacuated around 3,000 people from high-risk areas.
In a bid to halt the conflict, Iran has reportedly reached out to Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to press Trump to influence Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward a ceasefire. Tehran has hinted at flexibility on nuclear talks in exchange for a halt to Israeli aggression.
“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Foreign Minister Araghchi wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Israel must halt its aggression.”
Iran insists its nuclear ambitions remain peaceful and compliant with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while Israel—widely believed to possess nuclear weapons—remains outside the pact and has never formally acknowledged its arsenal.
Global concerns deepened Tuesday as oil prices surged over 2% in early Asian trading, and the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its nationals to leave the country immediately amid closed airspace and escalating violence.
The latest Israeli strikes reportedly caused extensive damage to Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that up to 15,000 centrifuges at the Natanz site may have been destroyed. Talks between Iran and the U.S., initially scheduled for June 15 in Oman, have now been cancelled.
Israel’s offensive began with a surprise strike that allegedly killed several top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Officials in Jerusalem say they have gained airspace control and intend to escalate further in the days ahead.
President Trump continues to frame the situation as one of clear choice: “This war ends the moment Iran makes the right choice,” he stated.
Nzubechukwu Eze
