Trump leaves G7 summit early after "evacuate Tehran" warning
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Smoke rises from the Iranian state TV building in Tehran after an Israeli strike. Photo: Stringer/Getty Images
President Trump called on Iranian civilians to "immediately evacuate Tehran" on Monday evening, shortly after which the White House announced he would be departing the G7 summit early to "attend to many important matters."
Why it matters: It's not immediately clear what triggered Trump's dramatic post on Truth Social or his early return from Canada. Israel has been conducting strikes in Tehran since Thursday night, but the U.S. has so far declined to join the operation.
- White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer denied reports the U.S. was attacking Iran: "American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests," he wrote.
- Trump later told reporters before departing Canada that "they (Iran) want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here."
- Tehran is home to around 10 million people, with around 17 million in the metropolitan area.
What he's saying: "Iran should have signed the "deal" I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Trump wrote.
- Trump followed up with a post chiding "kooky Tucker Carlson" for not understanding that "IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON."
- Next, he posted: "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
State of play: The Israeli military has said it has complete control of the skies over Tehran. It signaled Monday that it's expanding its targets beyond strictly military or nuclear sites, including by bombing Iranian state TV.
- Israel issued several evacuation orders for civilians in Tehran, in areas where hundreds of thousands of people live. One of those evacuation orders focused on the neighborhood where Iran's state TV is located.
- It's not clear how many civilians have managed to evacuate, or whether such a mass exodus is even possible on such a short timetable.
Split screen: Less than two hours before his Truth Social post, Trump said at the G7 summit in Canada that the U.S. was talking to the Iranians by phone and even suggested it will be "better to talk in person."
- Trump expressed hope that Iran would make a deal. "I think a deal will be signed. I think Iran is foolish not to sign one," he said.
- French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday evening that Trump had told his fellow G7 leaders that the U.S. had been involved in discussions to get an Israel-Iran ceasefire, and had offered to meet with the Iranians.
What's next: By skipping the second full day of the G7 summit, Trump is also skipping meetings with leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
- "Much was accomplished, but because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Go deeper: Israel's mission hinges on destroying Iran's hardest nuclear target
This breaking news story has been updated throughout.
