For a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, Israel and Iran exchanged attacks. Concurrently, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, attributing his call to what he described as Iran’s rejection of a nuclear weapons curbing agreement.
World leaders gathered at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada called for a de-escalation of the most severe conflict ever between the two regional adversaries. They emphasized that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon while simultaneously affirming Israel’s inherent right to self-defense.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Monday that President Trump, who departed the summit a day early due to the Middle East situation, had proposed a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,” Macron told reporters, adding, “So now we need to see what the stakeholders will do.”
Trump has consistently pressed Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.
On Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform, “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Stay Tuned!” He had also previously stated: “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Axios reported that the White House is currently discussing the possibility of a meeting this week between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Reuters was unable to immediately corroborate the details of the Axios report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Fox News that Trump remains committed to achieving a nuclear deal with Iran, while also asserting that the U.S. would protect its assets in the region.
Iranian media reported explosions and intense air defense fire in Tehran early on Tuesday, with smoke seen rising in the eastern part of the city following the explosion of suspected Israeli projectiles. The Asriran news website also reported that air defenses were activated in Natanz, located 320 km (200 miles) away and home to key nuclear installations.
Late on Monday, Israel stated it had struck Iran’s broadcasting authority, with video footage showing a newsreader hastily evacuating her seat as a blast occurred. Iranian state television reported that the strike killed two people.
In Israel, air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv after midnight, but no missile strikes were reported.
Iranian officials have reported 224 deaths, predominantly civilians, over the past five days, whereas Israel has stated that 24 civilians have been killed. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich indicated that nearly 3,000 Israelis had been evacuated due to damage from Iranian strikes.
Sources informed Reuters that Tehran had requested Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would demonstrate flexibility in nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional sources.
“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”
Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, emphasizing its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons in the Middle East, though it neither confirms nor denies this.
Oil prices surged over 2% in early Asian trading on Tuesday following Trump’s evacuation warning, reversing losses from Monday amid reports that Iran was seeking an end to hostilities.
Chinese Citizens Urged to Leave Israel
Given growing security concerns and the closure of Israeli airspace due to the conflict, the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its citizens to depart the country as soon as possible via land border crossings.
The Iran-Israel air war, the largest conflict ever between the two longstanding adversaries, escalated on Monday with Israel targeting Iran’s state broadcaster and uranium enrichment facilities.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the BBC that the Natanz plant sustained extensive damage, likely destroying 15,000 centrifuges, while Iran’s Fordow plant remained largely intact.
Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Oman, were scheduled for June 15 but were canceled, with Tehran stating it could not negotiate while under attack.
Israel initiated its air war with a surprise attack that has reportedly killed almost the entire top echelon of Iran’s military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. Israel asserts it now controls Iranian airspace and intends to intensify the campaign in the coming days.
Trump has consistently stated that the Israeli assault could conclude rapidly if Iran agrees to U.S. demands for strict limitations on its nuclear program
