Donald Trump says U.S. is aware of the place Iran’s Khamenei is hiding, urges Iran’s unconditional give up

President Donald Trump mentioned Tuesday (June 17, 2025) the US is aware of the place Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding throughout the Israel-Iran battle however doesn’t need him killed “for now.” Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” because the five-day battle continues to escalate.

“We all know precisely the place the so-called Supreme Chief’ is hiding,” Mr. Trump added. “He’s a straightforward goal, however is secure there – We’re not going to take him out (kill!), a minimum of not for now. However we don’t need missiles shot at civilians, or American troopers. Our endurance is carrying skinny.” Mr. Trump’s more and more muscular feedback in the direction of Tehran come after urging Tehran’s 9.5 million residents to flee for his or her lives as he lower brief his go to to a world summit to return to Washington for pressing talks together with his nationwide safety workforce.

Mr. Trump arrived on the White Home early Tuesday at a second of selecting in his presidency. Israel, with 5 days of missile strikes, has completed appreciable harm to Iran and believes it may now deal a everlasting blow to Tehran’s nuclear programme — significantly if it will get a little bit extra assist from the Republican president.

However deepening American involvement, maybe by offering the Israelis with bunker-busting bombs to penetrate Iranian nuclear websites constructed deep underground or providing different direct US army help, comes with huge political danger for Mr. Trump.

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Mr. Trump, as he made his means again to Washington, expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to achieve an settlement. He mentioned he was now on the lookout for “an actual finish” to the battle and a “full give-up” of Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“They need to have completed the deal. I instructed them, Do the deal,’” Mr. Trump instructed reporters on Air Power One. “So I don’t know. I’m not an excessive amount of within the temper to barter.” Iran has insisted that its nuclear programme is for peaceable functions solely, and US intelligence businesses have assessed that Tehran is just not actively pursuing a bomb.

Mr. Trump, who deliberate to fulfill with advisers within the Scenario Room, seems to be step by step constructing the general public case for a extra direct American position within the battle. His shift in tone comes because the US has repositioned warships and army plane within the area to reply if the battle between Israel and Iran additional escalates.

Mr. Trump made an early departure from G7 The White Home introduced Monday, whereas Trump was on the Group of Seven summit within the Canadian Rockies, that he would lower his journey brief.

“Merely acknowledged, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he wrote on social media. “I mentioned it over and over! Everybody ought to instantly evacuate Tehran!” Requested about his evacuation remark aboard Air Power One, Trump instructed reporters: “I simply need folks to be secure.” “We’re taking a look at higher than a ceasefire. We’re not on the lookout for a ceasefire,” Trump mentioned.

Mr. Trump mentioned he wasn’t ruling out a diplomatic choice and he might ship Vice President JD Vance and particular envoy Steve Witkoff to fulfill with the Iranians.

He additionally dismissed congressional testimony from Nationwide Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who instructed lawmakers in March that US spy businesses didn’t consider Iran was constructing a nuclear weapon.

“I don’t care what she mentioned,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “I believe they had been very near having it.” Hypothesis grows that Trump could also be tilting towards extra direct involvement The Israelis say their offensive has eviscerated Iran’s air defences and so they can now strike targets throughout the nation at will. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Israeli bombardment will proceed till Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missiles are destroyed.

To date, Israel has focused a number of Iranian nuclear programme websites however has not been capable of destroy Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility.

The positioning is buried deep underground — and to get rid of it, Israel might have the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Large Ordnance Penetrator, which makes use of its weight and sheer kinetic pressure to achieve deeply buried targets after which explode.

However Israel doesn’t have the munition or the bomber wanted to ship it — the penetrator is at the moment delivered by the B-2 stealth bomber.

Israel’s personal defences stay largely intact within the face of Iran’s retaliatory strikes, however a few of Tehran’s missiles are getting by way of and having lethal impression.

The White Home dispatched Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for a prime-time TV look as hypothesis grows about whether or not Trump could possibly be tilting towards extra direct US involvement.

Hegseth instructed Fox Information Channel that “in fact” Trump needed to see a deal made to curb Iran’s nuclear programme.

“His place has not modified,” Hegseth mentioned. “What you’re watching in actual time is peace by way of energy and America first. Our job is to be robust. We’re postured defensively within the area to be robust in pursuit of a peace deal. And we actually hope that’s what occurs right here.” Trump continues to push Iran to barter on its nuclear programme Trump, in the meantime, throughout an trade with reporters on the sidelines of the G7, declined to say what it might take for the US to get extra instantly concerned. As an alternative, he continued to press Iran on negotiations over its nuclear programme.

“They need to discuss, and they need to discuss instantly,” Trump mentioned throughout a bilateral assembly with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added, “I’d say Iran is just not successful this struggle.” To make certain, Trump within the days-old battle has sought to restrain Netanyahu. He rejected a plan introduced by Israel to the US to kill Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in keeping with a US official accustomed to the matter, who was not authorised to touch upon the delicate matter and spoke on the situation of anonymity.

The Israelis had knowledgeable the Trump administration in current days that that they had developed a reputable plan to kill Khamenei.

A widening schism over Iran amongst Trump’s MAGA supporters Trump bristled when requested about a few of his MAGA devoted, together with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who’ve recommended that additional US involvement can be a betrayal to supporters who had been drawn to his promise to finish US involvement in costly and infinite wars.

“Any individual please clarify to kooky Tucker Carlson that,’ IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!’” the president wrote on social media.

Different outstanding Trump supporters have additionally raised issues about how far the president ought to go in backing Israel.

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk are amongst outstanding Trump World allies who’ve famous that voters backed Trump as a result of he promised to not entangle the nation in overseas clashes and to be cautious of increasing US involvement within the Mideast battle.

He ran on a promise to shortly finish the wars in Gaza and Ukraine however has struggled to search out an endgame to both.

However there are additionally Trump backers, together with Sen Lindsey Graham, R-SC, who’re making the case that that is Trump’s second to ship a decisive blow to Iran. Graham is asking for Trump to “go all-in” in backing Israel and destroying Iran’s nuclear programme.