Trump Urges Immediate Evacuation of Tehran Amid Intensifying Conflict

In a recent interview on Iranian state television, General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior officer in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, asserted that Pakistan would retaliate with a nuclear strike against Israel if the latter were to use a nuclear bomb on Iran. This claim comes amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, where missile exchanges between Iran and Israel have resulted in approximately 248 reported deaths in the region. Rezaei emphasized Pakistan's commitment to supporting Iran and called for solidarity among Muslim nations. He stated, “Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb.” Iran and Pakistan are among the nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). While Pakistan has not made any public statements regarding a nuclear response, its defense minister has expressed concerns about Israel's nuclear capabilities, warning that conflicts generated by Israel could have catastrophic regional consequences. This geopolitical conflict continues to draw in external powers, including the United States, which has thus far refrained from direct military involvement.

Iran's armed forces reported on Saturday that they successfully shot down an Israeli F-35 Raptor fighter aircraft during recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The incident occurred in western Iran, with state media indicating that the pilot ejected but his current status remains unconfirmed and is under investigation. This attack followed waves of Israeli strikes on Friday against Iranian military assets, which Israel initially denied having occurred. However, Iran's military claims to have downed several Israeli fighter jets in response to these operations. As tensions escalate, both nations have experienced casualties, yet neither side has shown signs of de-escalation. The conflict has raised alarms internationally, as both Israel and Iran continue retaliatory actions while facing increasing pressure from global actors to refrain from further hostilities. Analysts warn that this volatile situation could potentially lead to larger-scale military confrontations in the region.

Iran has officially announced its withdrawal from negotiations with the United States regarding the revival of the 2015 nuclear agreement. This decision follows Israel's recent extensive military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, prompting further tensions between the nations, according to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The negotiations aimed to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the talks collapsed after the United States exited the deal in 2018 during Donald Trump's presidency. Explosions resulting from Israeli strikes reportedly killed several Iranian officials, including senior members of the Revolutionary Guard and nuclear scientists, Iranian authorities stated. In response, Iran launched around 100 drones towards Israel, with the Israel Defense Forces claiming to have intercepted the majority of them. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, suggested Iran might have a "second chance" to negotiate a deal but criticized their failure to do so within a 60-day ultimatum he provided, while warning of potential escalated Israeli military responses.