U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning early on Tuesday, calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran amid Israel's ongoing bombing campaign of Iran and reiterating that the Islamic Republic should have signed a nuclear deal with the United States.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
In a follow-up post shared shortly later, Trump wrote, "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Trump’s unusually direct call coincided with Iranian media reports of explosions in the skies above Tehran and “heavy fire” from the country’s air defense systems. Iranian outlets also reported that air defenses were activated around the Natanz nuclear facility.
Meanwhile, the White House shared Trump’s post on its official channels, emphasizing his call to evacuate Tehran immediately.
The Iranian capital, a sprawling city of around 10 million people, has seen rising panic in recent days as Israeli strikes continue. Videos circulating online have shown residents fleeing the capital after Trump's post amid growing fears of escalation.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Trump refused to sign a joint G7 statement in Canada Monday evening, which had called for de-escalation between Israel and Iran. The statement also included a demand to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense.
Speaking to CNN, a senior U.S. official said Trump’s post reflected the “urgency” for Iran to return to the negotiating table. During the G7 summit, the official added, Trump received constant briefings on the Israel-Iran conflict from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top aides.
CNN also reported that Vice President JD Vance was seen in a high-level meeting at the White House Monday evening with Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kane and other senior officials.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump would cut his stay at the summit short "due to the situation in the Middle East." CNN reported, citing a White House official, that Trump has directed his national security staff in Washington to convene in the situation room.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday he had ordered the deployment of additional defensive capabilities to the Middle East, as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran drives regional tensions higher.
Hegseth did not disclose what military capabilities he sent to the region. But a large number of U.S. military refueling aircraft were deployed eastward and an aircraft carrier was moved to the Middle East earlier Monday.
"Protecting U.S. forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region," Hegseth said in a post on social media platform X.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel warned that the security situation has “become more severe” and urged Chinese citizens to leave the country as soon as possible, recommending land crossings into Jordan.
Earlier, missiles were launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, prompting air raid sirens across central and southern Israel, including Be’er Sheva and the greater Tel Aviv area.
The alerts came without extended advance warning, sounding just three minutes after emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones instructing residents to enter protected spaces.
Initial reports indicated at least one impact in an unpopulated area in southern Israel, where a fire was reported. Magen David Adom said there were no reports of direct hits or injuries, aside from a few individuals who were hurt while rushing to shelters.
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According to the IDF, Iran fired between 10 and 20 ballistic missiles. Most were intercepted or landed in unpopulated areas without causing damage.
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Tel Aviv skies during early Tuesday's ballistic missile attack from Iran
(Photo: AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The IDF said its air defense systems responded immediately upon identifying the launch. Later, Home Front Command announced that residents could exit protected spaces.
The sirens followed a relatively quiet day in terms of Iranian missile attacks, and came just hours after a smaller barrage of a handful of missiles targeted northern Israel around 7:30 p.m. Monday. Most of the projectiles were intercepted. Additionally, multiple drones were reportedly shot down throughout the day and evening, triggering numerous sirens sounding across the north.