Israel and Iran continued their fierce exchanges for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, with both countries launching strikes amid rising global concerns. U.S. President Donald Trump, citing Iran’s refusal to accept a proposed nuclear deal, called on civilians to evacuate Tehran immediately.
At the G7 summit in Canada, world leaders issued a joint appeal for de-escalation, reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defence while insisting Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had proposed a ceasefire to both parties and suggested broader diplomatic talks may follow. “This is a very good thing,” Macron said. “We now wait to see how stakeholders respond.”
Trump reiterated his stance via Truth Social, declaring: “Iran should have signed the deal I told them to sign. What a shame and a waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”
Meanwhile, Axios reported that U.S. and Iranian officials were discussing the possibility of a direct meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. However, Reuters could not independently verify that claim.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told newsmen that the U.S. remains open to a nuclear agreement but stressed that it will continue to defend its assets in the region.
Early Tuesday, explosions rocked Tehran, and heavy anti-aircraft fire lit up the skyline as suspected Israeli projectiles hit the city’s east. Iran’s Natanz nuclear site also came under attack, according to local media. The previous night, Israel struck Iran’s state broadcasting facility during a live news segment, killing two people.
In Israel, sirens wailed across Tel Aviv, but no direct hits were reported. Iran said 224 people, mostly civilians, have died in the five-day conflict, while Israel reported 24 civilian deaths and the evacuation of nearly 3,000 residents due to ongoing Iranian strikes.
According to news reporters, Iran asked Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to pressure Israel via Trump to agree to a ceasefire, offering flexibility in nuclear talks in exchange. “If President Trump is sincere about diplomacy, the next steps are critical,” said Foreign Minister Araghchi on X.. “Without a total halt to Israeli aggression, our retaliation will continue.”
Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, as allowed under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it has signed. Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, has never confirmed or denied its arsenal and is not a party to the NPT.
The conflict rattled global markets, with oil prices jumping over 2% early Tuesday following Trump’s evacuation warning.
Adding to the sense of urgency, the Chinese embassy in Israel advised its nationals to leave the country via land crossings due to closed airspace and intensifying hostilities.
The scale of destruction is mounting. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s chief, Rafael Grossi, confirmed to newsmen that Israel’s strike on Iran’s Natanz facility may have destroyed 15,000 centrifuges, though Iran’s Fordow facility appeared to remain intact.
Scheduled nuclear talks in Oman were cancelled by Iran, which stated it could not negotiate while under active attack. Israel’s initial surprise assault killed much of Iran’s top military leadership and its most senior nuclear scientists. Israel now claims partial control over Iranian airspace and plans to intensify its campaign in the coming days.
President Trump insists the conflict could end swiftly if Iran accepts strict limitations on its nuclear program as proposed by Washington.
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