The Headline
Trump hints at imminent US strike amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict
Key Facts
- Israel launched extensive airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, including Tehran, escalating the conflict significantly, with over 1,100 targets struck since the offensive began, including a nuclear centrifuge plant and Iran's internal security headquarters, as confirmed by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces spokesman Effie Defrin.
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- Iran retaliated with over 400 missile and drone attacks on Israel since the conflict began, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.1
- Thousands of Iranians fled Tehran amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and official warnings to evacuate, with residents seeking sanctuary from intensified bombings.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's demands for unconditional surrender and warned that any US military intervention would cause irreparable damage.
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- Trump hinted at imminent military action against Iran, stating 'Next week will be big, maybe less than a week,' but remained non-committal about final decisions.
- Trump approved attack plans and threatened use of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the US military's most powerful non-nuclear bomb, but also expressed openness to diplomacy if Iran makes major concessions.
- The US moved two aircraft carriers, USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S Truman, near the Arabian Sea as a show of force amid rising tensions.
- Iran claimed to have launched hypersonic missiles at Israel for the first time in the conflict, marking a dangerous new phase in the regional military exchanges.
- Russian officials warned the world is 'millimetres away from a catastrophe' due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
- The death toll from the conflict surpassed 600, including many civilians, with humanitarian crises unfolding in Iran and the region.
- Trump confirmed Iran has reached out to negotiate but criticized their delay, saying 'Iran’s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate' and lamenting they did not come earlier.
- Trump warned everyone to evacuate Tehran immediately, echoing Israeli military alerts for mass evacuations amid escalating hostilities.
Expectations are growing in Washington that Donald Trump will soon heed Israeli calls to try to strike a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear program, using bunker-busting weapons that only the US can deliver.
CNN
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Thousands of people were fleeing Tehran on Wednesday after Israeli warplanes bombed the city overnight, and a source said Trump was considering options that include joining Israel in attacking nuclear sites.
Reuters
Ayatollah Khamenei issued a sharp warning to the United States on Wednesday, stating that any American intervention in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict would result in “irreparable damage.”
Timesofindia
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday threatened the U.S. with 'irreparable damage' if Washington follows through with a military strike against the Middle Eastern country.
Cnbc
On Wednesday, Donald Trump said Iran’s negotiators had suggested they “may come to the White House,” though he acknowledged it was too late. The US president also hinted at ‘something big’ next week, insinuating that he was at the tail of patience regarding the Israel Iran conflict.
Livemint
Thousands of people are fleeing Tehran as Israel continues with its air strikes. Fear and stress are evident in my sister's voice in Tehran, despite the crackling, intermittent WhatsApp connection that - miraculously - still works from time to time.
Bbc
Addressing a press conference from the White House's south lawn, Trump spoke about whether the United States will join Israel in its military offensive against Iran to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Keeping both options open, the US President said, 'I may do it, I may not do it - nobody knows what I'm going to do.'
Ndtv
He added that while Tehran had reached out, 'it's very late to be talking,' and hinted at imminent action: 'Next week will be big, maybe less than a week.'
Indiatoday
Israel’s attack on Iran was carried out with Donald Trump’s approval, government officials in Israel claim, and it appears to have been unleashed in the expectation – but not certainty – that the US would ultimately get drawn into the war.
Theguardian
President Donald Trump told reporters on June 18 he hasn’t decided whether to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Washingtonpost
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President Trump told top aides Tuesday night he's approved attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on final decision to see if Tehran gives up its nuclear program, the reported late Wednesday, citing sources.
Investors
Trump’s latest remarks came after Khamenei rejected US demands for surrender and warned that 'The Americans should know that any US military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage.'
Timesofindia
On the campaign trail ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, Trump never tired of repeating that he had no desire to allow the United States to get caught up in global military conflicts. In his January 2025 inaugural address, Trump called himself a "peacemaker," pledging to use the might of the US to "stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity" to the world.
Dw
Key Stats at a Glance
Number of Israeli targets struck in Iran
over 1,100 targets
1
Number of Iranian missiles and drones launched at Israel
over 400 missiles
1
Death toll from Israel-Iran conflict
over 600 dead
Iranian death toll according to Health Ministry
585
Number of residents urged to evacuate central Tehran
330,000 residents
