Former U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated rhetoric amid the Iran–Israel conflict, claiming the U.S. military knows the exact whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump emphasized on social media that while Khamenei is considered an “easy target,” Washington has no plans to take lethal action against him “for now.”
Trump’s statement, made as U.S. and Israeli military assets mobilize in the region, includes some of the toughest language yet. Alongside the revelation of Khamenei’s location, he vowed the U.S. will not tolerate further missile attacks on civilian areas or American troops. He declared that Iran must surrender unconditionally—though what that entails remains unspecified.
In an emergency session held in the White House Situation Room, where Trump met with senior officials including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the administration weighed the possibility of military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Trump has publicly said he expects Israel to take the lead, U.S. military forces are now strategically positioned, leaving the door open for potential intervention.
While hawkish voices within the administration, including hawks supportive of Israel, saw momentum for a strike, figures like Vice President Vance and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard urged restraint and called for diplomacy.
Iran responded sharply. Supreme Leader Khamenei denounced Trump’s threats as “absurd” and assured Iranians that the nation would not bow under pressure. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned that any U.S. military involvement would lead to devastating consequences for American interests in the region.
Washington’s position remains deliberately ambiguous. Speaking with reporters, Trump declared, “I may do it, I may not do it,” regarding military action against Iran, while reaffirming that Iran still has an opportunity to abandon its nuclear ambitions. He added that Tehran has reached out for dialogue, although Iranian officials deny such claims.
As tensions surge and both nations brace for potential escalation, global leaders continue calling for de-escalation—urging diplomacy over force, even as the shadow of war looms larger.
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