Trump steps up pressure on Iran as he demands ‘unconditional surrender’

Israel launches missiles and drones at Iran, while Donald Trump issues threats on the social network Truth. The president of the United States abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada on Monday amid rising tensions in the Middle East, and decided to ramp up pressure on Tehran.

On one hand, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he knows the whereabouts of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming that he is “an easy target.” On the other, the Pentagon is deploying more fighter jets to the region, according to Reuters. Trump’s message to Iran is clear: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” he wrote in all caps on his social network.

Trump said that he knows the location of Iran’s Supreme Leader. U.S. media outlets reported that the United States had initially asked Israel not to kill Khamenei when the conflict began, but now Trump is issuing a not-so-subtle threat. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but he’s safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American troops. Our patience is wearing thin,” the president wrote.

The message appeared to reflect Trump’s stance since the beginning of the conflict: to distance himself from Israel’s attack while warning Iran not to retaliate against U.S. targets. However, shortly afterward, he called for unconditional surrender while weighing whether to escalate, as suggested by Vice President J.D. Vance on the social network X: “He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian [uranium] enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president.”

In the early hours of Tuesday, aboard Air Force One, Trump again demanded Iran’s surrender. “I didn’t say I was looking for a ceasefire. We’re looking for better than a ceasefire,” he said. The president explained he was looking for “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire, a real end.” “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, it’s very simple,” he said aboard the presidential plane.

Trump had expressed optimism over the possibility of a deal over the weekend, but his optimism has proven unfounded before — such as when he claimed he would end the war in Ukraine in a day. The president blames Iran for the failure to reach a deal earlier in talks held over its nuclear program.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump struck both conciliatory and hardline tones. He first said he was considering sending J.D. Vance and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to meet with the Iranians — but that would depend on what happens next. He later added, “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate” with Iran.

When asked whether Israel will slow down its attacks on Iran, Trump said: “You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.” The Republican added that the U.S. is working to help Americans trying to flee the region amid the war between Israel and Iran. “We’re working on that, we’re doing the best we can,” he said.

Earlier, after leaving Kananaskis, where the G7 summit is being held, Trump had posted on his social network: “Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran. 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. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”

Upon arriving in Washington, he reiterated the message with another post on Truth Social: “I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table — Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”

Trump has so far tried to avoid being drawn into a war he would have preferred to prevent. Israel lacks the bunker-busting bombs and large bomber aircraft needed to destroy Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment plant, which is built deep underground within a mountain. For this reason, Israel wants the United States to take part in the operation to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program.

The president, however, has increasingly used the first-person plural in his recent messages about the war. “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” he said in one such post. According to sources cited by Reuters, the U.S. deployment of additional aircraft in the region includes F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s. These are said to be for defensive purposes, having been used to intercept and destroy drones and incoming projectiles.

“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” Trump shared on Monday before returning to Washington. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,” he added. Later, when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One why he had issued such a warning, he replied: “I just want people to be safe.”

Earlier, the Israeli military had called for around 330,000 residents of a central district in Tehran to evacuate the area. Tehran is one of the largest cities in the Middle East, with about 10 million inhabitants — roughly the same as the entire population of Israel. People have been fleeing since the hostilities began, but a full evacuation of the city, as Trump demanded, would be chaos.

Israel says its sweeping attacks on top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and Iran’s ballistic missile program are necessary to prevent its historic rival from moving any closer to developing a nuclear weapon. The strikes have killed more than 220 people in Iran and wounded around 1,300 since Friday.

In response, Iran has launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and over 500 injured. The Israeli military said a new wave of missiles was launched on Tuesday, and explosions could be heard in northern Israel.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition