Washington: In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly declared that the United States knows the exact location where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding but has opted not to target him “for now.” Instead, Trump used social media to demand Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” as fighting in the region enters its sixth day and tensions continue to mount.
Trump’s message, posted after cutting short his participation in the G7 summit in Canada to return to Washington, carried a tone of both warning and ultimatum. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump wrote, “He is an easy target... but we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.” The statement was followed by reports that Trump had rejected an Israeli proposal to assassinate Khamenei, fearing it would escalate the crisis and destabilize the entire region.
In a series of remarks from Air Force One and at the White House, Trump stated he was no longer interested in ceasefires or negotiations, emphasizing that Tehran must accept a “complete give-up” of its nuclear program. Despite U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran is not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon, Trump dismissed the testimony of National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, stating: “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.” Meanwhile, the State Department has set up a task force to assist Americans looking to exit Israel and surrounding areas, though no mass evacuations are currently underway.
Trump’s stance has ignited division among his own conservative base. While figures like Senator Lindsey Graham are urging him to fully back Israel and push for Iran’s military and nuclear defeat, others like Tucker Carlson and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene warn that deeper U.S. involvement could betray the promises Trump made to avoid foreign entanglements. Trump pushed back sharply, writing, “Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
The backdrop to this growing confrontation is Israel’s intensified military campaign, which has heavily damaged Iranian infrastructure and air defenses. Israeli leaders claim they now have control of the skies over Tehran, though critical nuclear facilities like the underground Fordo site remain intact. To destroy it, Israel may need the U.S.-owned 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker buster—an option that could mark a significant turning point in U.S. involvement.
As warships are repositioned and American air assets are moved closer to the region, Trump’s comments suggest the U.S. is on the brink of a deeper role in the conflict. While diplomatic channels remain technically open, with potential envoy missions being floated, the administration’s message to Tehran is increasingly one of finality: surrender, or face overwhelming retaliation.
