United States President Donald Trump left the G7 summit in Canada prematurely, telling the media that he was looking for “a real end, not a ceasefire” to the Israeli-Iran conflict.
Rejecting comments from the French president Emmanuel Macron that he intended to push for a ceasefire, Trump called on all 9 million Iranian citizens to evacuate Tehran, signalling the possibility of a huge attack by Israel on the Iranian capital city to come. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again.”
Trump stands to lose significantly from this war, as the now-abandoned nuclear talks with Iran could have led to the lifting of US sanctions and a potential boost to the American economy by opening Iranian markets to US companies. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “basically bombed away President Trump’s only possibility for a diplomatic win early on in his second term”.
Iran’s Health Ministry has reported 224 fatalities as a result of Israeli missile strikes on Iranian territory, with a further 1,277 people hospitalised. In response, Iran’s retaliatory attacks have killed at least 24 people and injured more than 500 in major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa.
The Iranian government and military in Tehran have declared an “unlimited response” to Israeli aggression that began on 13 June. On 11 June, Iran had also warned that it would target US bases across the Middle East if its nuclear sites were attacked by Israel.
As of Tuesday, there are no signs of de-escalation. Despite a plea from Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, both militaries have continued to reiterate the strength of their armed forces and launch retaliatory missiles.
Meanwhile, Iranians have begun fleeing Tehran, with many foreign nationals heading towards neighbouring Azerbaijan, a key ally of Israel. At the same time, foreign nationals are also leaving Israel, despite the closure of Ben Gurion Airport due to Iranian missile strikes.
Since launching its attack on Iran on Friday, Israel has also continued its bombardment of Gaza, with over 200 Palestinians killed in airstrikes over the weekend. Israeli authorities have reportedly intensified punitive measures against Palestinian prisoners accused of celebrating Iranian strikes on Israeli infrastructure.
The speed at which Trump’s hopes for a diplomatic settlement with Iran were derailed by Israel’s aggressive posture has shocked analysts, who say the new administration’s reluctance to entangle itself further in regional affairs increasingly appears at odds with the aims of Israel, Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East.
