US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, claiming the US knows his exact location but will not target him “at least for now.”
The statement, posted on Truth Social, comes amid heightened tensions following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities under Operation Rising Lion, now in its fifth day.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump wrote. “But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
In a follow-up post, he demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” The provocative rhetoric follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suggestion that eliminating Khamenei could end the conflict.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured “stuff.” Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” wrote Trump in another post.
The Israeli strikes, which began Friday, aim to halt Iran’s alleged progress toward a nuclear weapon. Israel claims Iran is close to achieving nuclear capability, prompting the aggressive campaign. Tehran, however, denies these accusations, while panic grips the capital.
Reports describe air raid sirens, shuttered shops in the Grand Bazaar, and residents fleeing westward, clogging roads and gas stations.
Trump, who cut short a G7 summit visit in Canada to return to Washington, dismissed ceasefire talks. “I’m not looking at a ceasefire. We’re looking at better than a ceasefire,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, hinting at potential escalation.
Trump convenes NSC meeting
Trump is convening a meeting of his National Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the Iran-Israel war, a White House official said on condition of anonymity, reports AFP.
The meeting, which the official said had not yet started, comes after Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Iran's supreme leader, sparking questions about possible US military intervention.
No activity at White House
His flurry of Truth Social posts contrasts with the eerie quiet at the White House, where no official updates on the president’s activities have emerged since his return.
Reporters noted an absence of the usual Marine guard outside the West Wing, suggesting Trump may not be present.
Will US join the conflict?
The looming question is whether the US will join Israel’s campaign.
At the heart of the issue is Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, buried 90 meters under a mountain. Destroying it would likely require the US’s GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bomb capable of penetrating deep bunkers, carried by B-2 Spirit bombers stationed at Diego Garcia, 2,358 miles from Iran. Israel lacks this capability, making US involvement critical for targeting Fordow.
A US Navy Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS Nimitz, is also en route to the region, fuelling speculation about America’s next move.
For now, analysts are divided: Is the US military build-up a bluff to pressure Tehran into negotiations, or a prelude to direct involvement?
Trump’s aversion to prolonged wars adds uncertainty, but his aggressive rhetoric suggests a high-stakes gamble. As the world watches, the Middle East teeters on the edge of further escalation.
Source: Al Jazeera, BBC