Amid rising hostilities between Iran and Israel, former US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning urging civilians to “immediately evacuate Tehran,” further intensifying fears of a larger regional conflict.
Trump made the dramatic call through a series of late-night posts on his platform, Truth Social, shortly before the White House confirmed he would leave the ongoing G7 Summit early “to attend to many important matters.”
“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,” Trump posted, repeating his long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear program. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he added.
He followed up with a politically charged message: “AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
The warning came as Israeli forces continued aerial strikes on Tehran, which began Thursday night. Although the U.S. has not officially joined the offensive, Trump’s statements and the timing of the reported attacks have drawn global attention. Iranian media reported heavy explosions and anti-aircraft fire in the capital shortly after Trump’s warning was posted, though no direct link between the statements and the attacks has been confirmed.
Tehran, a city of nearly 10 million with 17 million in its metro area, was already under partial evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces targeting areas around Iranian state TV headquarters and other government-linked sites. On Monday, the Israeli military declared it had full control of the skies above Tehran and hinted at broadening its target list beyond military installations.
Despite the aggressive rhetoric online, Trump struck a slightly different tone just hours earlier at the G7 Summit in Canada, stating, “I think a deal will be signed. I think Iran is foolish not to sign one… It’s better to talk in person.”
He added that discussions with Iran were ongoing and suggested that a diplomatic breakthrough could follow after his departure from the summit.
“As soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran has urged the U.S. to mediate and pressure Israel to halt the aerial strikes, which have escalated into the most direct confrontation between the two nations in recent years.
Rhetoric from all sides has grown sharper in recent days, with observers warning that a full-scale conflict could erupt if diplomacy fails. With Trump’s return to the global stage—and a possible 2024 presidential rematch looming—his aggressive posture on Iran is drawing renewed scrutiny and stirring debate about the role the U.S. should play in de-escalating the situation.
