Evacuate Tehran": Trump issues stark warning as Iran-Israel conflict escalates

As fighting between Iran and Israel entered its fifth consecutive day, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an urgent warning on Monday, calling on civilians in Tehran to evacuate immediately.

Citing Iran’s refusal to accept a nuclear deal, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to say, “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!”

In response to the escalating Middle East crisis, Trump cut short his participation at the G7 summit in Canada, planning to depart a day early to convene a meeting of his National Security Council, according to the White House.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the move, noting it could help fast-track negotiations for a ceasefire between the warring nations.

Following Trump’s remarks, explosions and heavy anti-aircraft fire were reported across Tehran in the early hours of Tuesday. Iran’s state media confirmed that air defense systems had been activated in the capital as well as in Natanz, a city housing critical nuclear infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Israeli cities also came under renewed missile attacks from Iran.

In Tel Aviv, sirens wailed past midnight and explosions echoed as Iranian missiles struck again. Casualty reports from both sides paint a grim picture: Iranian officials said 224 people, primarily civilians, had been killed over five days of conflict, while Israel reported 24 civilian deaths and damage to infrastructure that forced around 3,000 evacuations.

Diplomatic backchannels appear to be active. Sources told Reuters that Iran has reached out to Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, asking them to press Trump into convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. In exchange, Tehran would reportedly show greater flexibility in future nuclear talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi addressed the situation on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”

Netanyahu, however, remained firm in his stance. “If this can be achieved in another way—fine. But we gave it a 60-day chance,” he said, reaffirming Israel’s goal to eliminate threats from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Trump claimed the 60-day period for Iran to halt uranium enrichment had lapsed without resolution. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7, he told reporters, “As I've been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign.”

As the crisis unfolds, oil prices surged more than 2% in Asian markets following Trump’s evacuation warning, rebounding from losses earlier in the week amid speculation about Iran’s willingness to negotiate.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Israel has urged its citizens to leave the country immediately using land routes, citing growing security risks and the closure of Israeli airspace.

The conflict has reached an unprecedented scale, with Israel targeting Iranian nuclear sites and state media infrastructure. According to Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Israel’s attack on the Natanz nuclear site inflicted severe damage, likely destroying 15,000 centrifuges. Iran’s Fordow facility, however, remains largely undamaged.

Planned nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, originally set to take place in Oman on June 15, have been cancelled. Tehran stated that no diplomatic talks can proceed while the country remains under active assault.

Israel’s surprise air offensive at the start of the conflict decimated key figures in Iran’s military leadership and targeted top nuclear scientists. Israeli officials claim their forces now control Iranian airspace and are preparing to intensify operations further.

Despite international pressure for restraint, a U.S. official confirmed that Trump has declined to endorse a G7 joint statement calling for de-escalation. The draft statement emphasises that “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon” and affirms Israel’s right to defend itself.