Israel has warned of impending “major” attacks on Tehran, as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with his National Security Council after calling for a “real end” to the deadly aerial exchanges that have plagued the arch-foes for five consecutive days, reports RFE.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that his country’s military would issue further warnings to Tehran residents before attacks expected to be carried out on June 17. “We will attack very important targets in Tehran today… we will continue with heavy strikes against Iran,” Katz declared.
Escalating Tensions and International Reactions
The warnings come as Iranian media reported several explosions in the city of Isfahan, home to several nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, air raid sirens have been heard throughout Tel Aviv, alerting residents to potential Iranian attacks.
Leaving the G7 summit in Canada, President Trump expressed his frustration with Tehran for failing to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, which Israel is targeting despite Iran’s claims of civilian purposes. “I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking for something better than a ceasefire,” Trump told reporters as he departed Canada for Washington, leaving the summit unfinished.
Trump emphasized that his goal is “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.”
Military Developments and US Stance
Earlier on June 17, the Israeli military announced it had killed Ali Shadmani, who was named commander of the Khatam ol-Anbiya central headquarters following the killing of General Gholam Ali Rashid in Israeli attacks on June 13. Iran has not confirmed Shadmani’s death; he was a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The headquarters is responsible for operational command, and its leader serves as the deputy general commander of Iran’s armed forces.
Trump departed the G7 summit on June 16 with a strong message on social media, warning that “everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately.” He further wrote on Truth Social: “Iran should have signed ‘the deal’. I told them to sign it. What a shame and loss of human lives. Frankly, IRAN CANNOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. I have said it many times.”
The American television network CNN quoted a White House official as saying that the evacuation comment was a form of pressure on Iran to negotiate. The Israeli military had also previously issued a notice calling on residents of a Tehran district to evacuate.
Israel asserts that its attacks against Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment centers, and ballistic missile program are necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. These attacks have killed at least 224 people in Iran. Iran has retaliated by launching over 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, resulting in 24 reported deaths in Israel so far.
