Washington (TDI): Amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stark warning to residents of Tehran, urging them to evacuate the Iranian capital immediately.
Using his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “Iran should have accepted the deal I proposed. This is a tragic and needless loss of life. As I’ve always said Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. Everyone should leave Tehran immediately!”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron made a public appeal for an end to attacks targeting civilians in both Iran and Israel. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron cautioned against any attempts to impose regime change in Tehran, calling it a “strategic mistake.” He warned that foreign military intervention rarely delivers lasting peace and often deepens crises.
As the conflict escalates, Israel has extended its military campaign beyond Gaza, launching significant air strikes on Iranian territory. The Israeli government claims the operation reportedly codenamed “Rising Lion” is aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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Iranian media reported explosions and heavy anti-aircraft fire across Tehran early Tuesday, with similar activity around the Natanz nuclear site. In Israel, air raid sirens were triggered in Tel Aviv, with the military confirming incoming missile attacks from Iran. However, alerts were later lifted in the country’s north.
Casualty reports paint a grim picture as over 220 Iranians, mostly civilians, have died, with more than 1,000 injured since Friday. Israel has reported at least 24 fatalities.
The nuclear standoff remains central to the crisis. Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), maintains it is not pursuing weapons. Israel, not a party to the NPT, is widely believed to possess roughly 90 nuclear warheads.
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Various UN resolutions, including one from the General Assembly, have urged Israel to place its nuclear program under international oversight.
Despite the intensifying conflict, US officials have denied launching any attacks on Iran. White House officials have confirmed that Trump will convene his National Security Council to address the ongoing crisis. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the administration is still hoping to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, despite the deteriorating situation.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
