Trump Urges Immediate Evacuation of Tehran Amid Ongoing Conflict

As hostilities between Israel and Iran enter their fifth day, both nations continued to launch attacks against each other overnight. Iran initiated the conflict with a launch of fewer than ten ballistic missiles just past midnight, a move interpreted as a potential signal for de-escalation and a desire for a ceasefire.

In retaliation, Israel conducted a strike at approximately 4:50 AM targeting Tehran's capital and three sites in the northeastern part of the city, leading to significant plumes of smoke visible in the sky. Later in the morning, the Israeli military claimed to have executed an airstrike in central Tehran, resulting in the death of the country's highest-ranking military figure, Ali Shadmani, who was considered the closest aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This marks the second instance in five days where Iran has lost a key military leader, according to statements made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on social media.

Iran responded to these strikes by launching approximately twenty missiles towards central Israel around 7:30 AM, which reportedly caused injuries to around ten individuals due to shrapnel. The threat level was deemed safe again roughly an hour later.

Prior to the overnight assault, Israel had urged civilians in Tehran to evacuate. In a notable statement, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to advise that "everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately." He remarked that Iran should have accepted the agreement he had previously proposed.

According to media reports, Trump departed from the ongoing G7 summit in Canada earlier than planned due to the escalating conflict. Discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials regarding potential new dialogue were also reported, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to negotiate a possible nuclear agreement and an end to hostilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron characterized Trump's premature exit from the G7 meeting as a positive development, suggesting that it demonstrated a commitment to achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as proposed by the United States. Macron stated, "A proposal has been presented, particularly aimed at achieving a ceasefire and opening broader discussions. I believe this is very positive. However, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will respond."

Furthermore, Macron cautioned against the potential consequences of attempting to forcibly change the regime in Iran through military means, expressing that historical attempts to resolve a nation's internal conflicts through external military intervention have proven misguided.

In response to Macron's comments, Trump refuted claims that his return to Washington was linked to efforts for a ceasefire, asserting that the situation was much more significant. He expressed skepticism regarding Macron's understanding of the situation, emphasizing that there would be further developments.

On Tuesday morning, the G7 group reached a consensus on a resolution affirming Israel's right to self-defense and underscoring that Iran must never be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. The statement highlighted Iran's role as a destabilizing force in the region while simultaneously calling for peace and an end to the conflict between Iran and Israel, which should also facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to Iranian authorities, the violence has resulted in the deaths of 224 individuals, primarily civilians, due to the Israeli strikes, whereas Israel reports that 24 civilian fatalities have occurred alongside the evacuation of around 3,000 people.