The escalating air war between Israel and Iran entered its fifth day, marked by intense Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets and retaliatory Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a statement posted on Truth Social, called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran, Iran’s capital, home to approximately 9.5 million people, citing the risk of further escalation in the conflict. The statement, which lacked specifics on any imminent threat, underscored Trump’s position that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and blamed the Iranian regime for failing to sign a nuclear deal he proposed during his presidency.
The conflict began with a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the Natanz enrichment site, and key military installations, such as Quds Force command centers. Israel’s military claimed “full aerial superiority” over Tehran, with one notable strike disrupting a live broadcast on Iran’s state-run television, IRIB, by targeting its headquarters. Iranian officials reported 224 deaths, predominantly civilians, with thousands injured and significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and residential areas in Tehran and Isfahan.
Israel, in turn, reported 24 civilian deaths and over 100 injuries from Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other cities, with the Iron Dome defense system intercepting most but not all incoming projectiles. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes as a necessary preemptive action to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities, explicitly denying regime change as an objective, though he suggested it could be a byproduct of the conflict. Israeli military sources indicated that the operation, dubbed “Operation Northern Arrows,” aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles for at least two years.
Iran’s response has been a mix of defiance and diplomatic maneuvering. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi signaled Iran’s willingness to resume nuclear negotiations, contingent on a ceasefire and the cessation of Israeli attacks, while also appealing to regional allies like Turkey and Qatar to pressure the U.S. to restrain Israel. Iran’s military, meanwhile, claimed to have launched over 400 missiles, including advanced hypersonic models, targeting Israeli air bases and civilian infrastructure, though independent verification of the scale and success of these attacks remains limited.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised alarms about potential radiological and chemical contamination at the Natanz facility following Israeli strikes, which reportedly damaged uranium enrichment centrifuges and storage sites. While external radiation levels were reported as normal, the IAEA warned of long-term environmental risks if containment measures fail. Local Iranian authorities have begun evacuating residents near Natanz, though logistical challenges and public panic have complicated efforts.
President Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, underscored the gravity of the crisis, as he returned to Washington to convene an emergency National Security Council meeting. U.S. officials clarified that the United States has not participated in Israel’s offensive operations, though it continues to provide defensive support, including enhanced missile defense systems deployed in the region. Trump’s evacuation warning has drawn criticism from some analysts who argue it risks inflaming tensions without offering a clear de-escalation strategy, while others see it as a calculated move to pressure Iran into negotiations.
International reactions have been swift but fragmented. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency session to address the crisis, though divisions among permanent members—particularly the U.S., Russia, and China—are likely to hinder decisive action. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, called for an immediate ceasefire and urged both sides to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure, while expressing concern over the humanitarian toll in both Iran and Israel.
In Iran, the government has struggled to maintain public order amid widespread power outages and disrupted communications caused by the strikes. Social media posts from Tehran, cross-referenced with local reports, describe scenes of chaos, with long queues at gas stations and supermarkets as residents stockpile essentials. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised address, vowed a “crushing response” to Israel’s actions but also called for national unity to withstand what he described as a “Western-Zionist conspiracy.”
Israel, meanwhile, has placed its military on high alert, with reservists mobilized and bomb shelters opened nationwide. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting 85% of incoming Iranian missiles, though damage to civilian areas has fueled domestic calls for a stronger retaliatory response. Netanyahu’s coalition government faces mounting pressure to balance military objectives with international calls for restraint, particularly as the U.S. and European allies emphasize the need to avoid a broader regional war.
The humanitarian impact is severe, with the International Committee of the Red Cross estimating that over 10,000 people in Iran and 2,000 in Israel have been displaced. Hospitals in Tehran are reportedly overwhelmed, with medical supplies dwindling, while Israel’s Magen David Adom has deployed mobile medical units to affected areas. Both sides have accused the other of violating international humanitarian law, with Iran citing strikes on civilian targets and Israel pointing to Iran’s indiscriminate missile barrages.
Diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict remain nascent. Qatar and Turkey have offered to mediate indirect talks, but Israel’s insistence on continuing strikes until Iran’s nuclear capabilities are neutralized complicates negotiations. Iran’s Araqchi, in a statement to Al Jazeera, expressed hope that a U.S.-brokered ceasefire could pave the way for renewed nuclear talks, potentially reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) framework, which Trump withdrew from in 2018.
The role of regional actors adds further complexity. Hezbollah, Iran’s ally in Lebanon, has launched limited rocket attacks on northern Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have remained publicly neutral but are reportedly engaging in backchannel diplomacy to prevent the conflict from spreading to the Gulf. Russia and China have condemned Israel’s actions, with Moscow offering to supply Iran with advanced air defense systems, a move that could escalate tensions further.
Trump’s call for Tehran’s evacuation has sparked debate over its intent and feasibility. Logistically, evacuating a city of 9.5 million is nearly impossible without significant planning, and Iranian authorities have not issued a formal evacuation order, though some residents are fleeing to rural areas. Analysts suggest Trump’s statement may be aimed at signaling U.S. support for Israel while avoiding direct military involvement, though it risks being perceived as an empty gesture by Tehran’s leadership.
The conflict’s economic impact is already evident. Global oil prices have surged 8% since the onset of hostilities, with Brent crude approaching $90 per barrel due to fears of disruptions in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s economy, already strained by sanctions, faces further pressure as damaged infrastructure hampers oil exports, while Israel’s high-tech sector has seen stock market declines amid investor concerns over prolonged instability.
As the air war continues, the international community faces a delicate balancing act: preventing a full-scale regional war while addressing the underlying issues of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel’s security concerns. The IAEA’s ongoing inspections of damaged Iranian nuclear sites will likely play a critical role in determining the conflict’s trajectory, as will the ability of mediators to secure a ceasefire. For now, the situation remains fluid, with both sides showing little willingness to back down.
