Trump demands Iran’s surrender, warns of strike on leader

President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded “unconditional surrender” from Iran and warned that the U.S. could easily assassinate its supreme leader, escalating tensions as Israel and Iran exchanged strikes for a fifth straight day.

Trump’s remarks came as Israeli warplanes launched fresh attacks on missile and drone sites in western Iran and claimed to have killed senior commander Ali Shadmani in a strike on a Tehran command center. His predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, was killed in an earlier Israeli attack.

Iran responded with missile fire, triggering explosions over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Air raid sirens sounded in Dimona, home to Israel’s nuclear plant, though no direct hits were reported.

On Truth Social, Trump posted: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding... We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.” He added, “Our patience is wearing thin,” and later posted: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

The National Security Council met for over an hour Tuesday, though no statement followed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed U.S. forces are being reinforced in the region.

Iran warned civilians in Tel Aviv and Haifa to evacuate, while blasts were reported in Iranian cities including Isfahan and Tehran. A cyberattack disrupted Iran’s Sepah Bank, and panic-buying gripped the capital.

The conflict has derailed U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported damage at Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility. Israel, which has not confirmed its nuclear capabilities, is believed to possess around 90 warheads.

Foreign governments are evacuating citizens, and global leaders have urged restraint. French President Emmanuel Macron warned regime change would lead to “chaos.”

Iran says Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people; Israel reports 24 dead and hundreds injured.