Trump says US will not kill Iran's Ayatollah 'for now' but warns he knows where he is

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran has announced it is targeting air bases in Israel with air strikes.

More details to follow.

The US State Department has created a special task force to assist citzens seeking to leave Israel and other countries in the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates, although no government evacuations are currently planned.

The task force, run by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, is operating 24 hours to provide information to US citizens and lawful permanent residents wanting to return to the United States.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce wouldn't tell reporters how many people had sought advice from the task force.

There are around 700,000 Americans, many of them dual US-Israeli citizens, now in Israel and thousands more in other countries across the region, including in Iran.

France's President Emmanuel Macron says his US counterpart Donald Trump has apparently changed his opinion on Iran, after Trump in a social media post said the US will not kill Iran’s Ayatollah "for now."

Macron also said the biggest error today would be to try to effect regime change in Iran through military means.

The French president was speaking to the media in Canada where he's been attending the G7 summit.

US strikes on targets in Iran, including the country's nuclear facilities, are on the table, Fox News says quoting a White House official. 

Continuous, intense explosions are being reported west of Iran's capital Tehran.

That's according to the state-run news agency, IRNA.

The chief of Iran’s Armed Forces has warned residents of Israel that "especially Tel Aviv and Haifa need to evacuate as soon as possible to save their lives."

In a video carried by Iranian media, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said that the "operations carried out so far have been a warning for deterrence," and a "punitive operation" by Iran "will be carried out soon."

Iranian state television has urged the public to remove the messaging app WhatsApp from their smartphones, alleging without offering any evidence the app is gathering user information to send to Israel.

In a statement, WhatsApp said it was "concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most."

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, meaning a service provider in the middle can't read a message.

"We do not track your precise location, we don't keep logs of who everyone is messaging and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another," it added.

"We do not provide bulk information to any government."

WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

US military movements in the Mediterranean suggest Washington may join Israel in strikes on Iran.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran residents to evacuate, signalling a shift from negotiation to potential military action.

Sasha Vakulina has the story which you can read below.

Massive military jet shuffle signals possible groundwork for US action

US military movements in the Mediterranean suggest Washington may join Israel in strikes on Iran. Trump warned Tehran residents to evacuate, signaling……

Defence Secretary John Healey has said that the additional fighter aircraft the UK announced it was sending to the Middle East have begun arriving.

Healey told a defence conference in London that he is ensuring "force protection is now at its highest level" and said the move is to "protect our personnel, it's to reassure our partners, and it's to reinforce the urgent need for de-escalation."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at the weekend that the UK would be deploying more military aircraft including Typhoons and air-to-air refuelers to the Middle East.

NetBlocks, a group that tracks internet disruptions by nations, said it has detected a reduction of internet access in Iran.

"Analysis of telemetry shows a significant reduction in internet traffic in Iran," the group said.

"The incident comes amid an escalating conflict with Israel and is likely to limit the public's ability to access information at a critical time."

Israel has launched a "massive cyber war" against Iran's digital infrastructure, Iranian media quoting the country's cybersecurity command has said.

Many of the attacks were successfully repelled, the agency added.

More details to follow.

Airlines in Israel have said they have received permission from the government to operate flights to bring people back to Israel who had been stranded abroad during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Israeli airspace has been closed since the two countries began tit-for-tat strikes on on Friday.

Military operations have stranded tens of thousands of people whose flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled.

Israel's flag carrier El Al Airlines said it expects to operate flights on Wednesday from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris.

The airline said there would still be no passenger flights leaving Israel. 

A hacking group with alleged ties to Israel has claimed it destroyed customer data at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah.

The Gonjeshke Darande (Predatory Sparrrow) group is against the Iranian government and has a track record of cyberattacks.

The group said it had targeted Sepah because it allegedly circumvents international sanctions and uses the money of Iranian customers to fund the military.

Bank Sepah's website was offline on Tuesday and Israeli media reported the customers in Iran had problems accessing their accounts. 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed strong support for Israel in its attacks on Iran, speaking to German broadcaster ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada.

In an interview, Merz said “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world”

US Vice-President JD Vance says President Donald Trump may decide he needs "to take further action" to end Iran's nuclear programme.

In a social media post, he stated that Iran has "enriched uranium far above the level necessary for any civilian purpose".

Iran appears to be slowly restricting access for the public to the outside world, as landline telephones seemed to no longer be able to receive or dial international phone calls.

International websites also appeared to be restricted for internet users. However, local websites appeared to be functioning.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Israeli airstrikes around the city of Isfahan.

In Tehran, there have been reports of series of explosions and anti-aircraft fire throughout the capital just before 6:30 pm local time.

The IDF have said that several missiles were launched from Iran to Israel. "Most of them were intercepted"

They have said that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces.

Iran's Mehr News Agency has stated that several explosions have been heard in northern and eastern Isfahan, and air defences are working to intercept hostile targets.

Israeli army has said that they detected rockets being launched toward Israel, and their air defences are working to intercept the threat.

The IDF stated that a short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has said that regime change in Iran is not the goal of Israel’s ongoing military action, though he acknowledged it could become a consequence.

Speaking during a visit to the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, which was struck by Iranian missile fire, Sa’ar told reporters that Israel has three main objectives in its campaign. The first, he said, is to severely damage Iran’s nuclear programme, adding that “we haven’t finished with that — we still have targets.”

Sa’ar added that Israel also aims to deal a significant blow to Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and to prevent what he described as Tehran’s broader plan to eliminate the state of Israel. He reiterated former claims made by the IDF that Israeli warplanes now enjoy air superiority over Iranian territory.

Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. 

Iran has announced a ban on smartphones and laptops for government officials and their bodyguards.

The ban prohibits the use of all communication devices linked to networks, including mobile phones, smart watches and laptops.

Iran did not elaborate on the ban, which was reported by the state affiliated Fars news agency. However, it suggests that Iran fears Israeli digital tracking.

US President Donald Trump made several comments on the conflict between Israel and Iran, speaking to reporters before his early departure from the G7 summit in Canada.

“We’re looking for better than a ceasefire,” Trump said, suggesting he was not satisfied with simply halting the hostilities.

Pressed to clarify what he meant, the president added: “An end, a real end. Giving up entirely — that’s okay too."

Watch the full clip below.

We have some fresh pictures of citizens from Poland and Austria assembling at a hotel in order to flee Israel amidst the escalating conflict.

Seperately, a Czech government plane carrying 66 people from Israel landed in Prague on Tuesday morning.

“I am glad they are all OK. The transport was really demanding in the difficult environment,” Czech defence minister Jana Cernochova said about the flight on X.

Credit: AP

Earlier today, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Israeli Air Force had begun carrying out attacks in western Iran.

The IDF has now confirmed that operation.

In a newly released statement, the Israel Defence Forces said that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) “completed a series of strikes” targeting multiple locations, including “dozens of surface-to-surface missile launchers.”

Additionally, the IAF conducted "intelligence-based strikes" on radar systems and surface-to-air missile sites embedded in the region.

The military added that Israeli aircraft "continue to operate in Iranian airspace" to locate and neutralise missile launch platforms aimed at Israel’s home front.

Israeli airstrikes caused "direct impacts" on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The nuclear watchdog said it now believes the strikes hit the facility’s underground centrifuge halls, though it did not provide further details.

It's the first time the agency has confirmed damage to Natanz's underground sections — the core of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

Earlier reports indicated that Israel had destroyed the facility’s above-ground enrichment hall and electrical systems that powered key infrastructure.

Yesterday, Israel claimed responsibility for striking Iran’s nuclear sites, saying nine nuclear scientists were killed in the operation. The Israeli government said the action was part of ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which it considers an existential threat.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned of imminent large-scale Israeli strikes in Tehran, targeting what he described as nuclear and regime-linked infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters at the site of a ballistic missile strike in central Israel, Katz said the Israeli Air Force would carry out “very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure” in the Iranian capital later today.

According to The Times of Israel, Katz claimed there are “more than 10 nuclear targets” in Tehran that Israel is “on the verge of destroying,” citing Israeli aerial superiority in the region.

He also said the underground Fordo nuclear facility “is an issue that will certainly be addressed.”

Katz said the Israel Defence Forces would issue evacuation warnings ahead of the strikes.

Earlier, Katz issued a similar warning to residents of Tehran. AP reported that explosions run out across the city on Tuesday afternoon.

As residents of Tehran grapple with an evacuation warning, a cyberattack has reportedly targeted one of Tehran's banks, Bank Sepah, with online services disrupted.

The state affiliated Fars news agency said that this will likely also cause disruption at some gas stations.

The hackers identified themselves as “Gonjeshke Darande,” or “Predatory Sparrow.” The group previously claimed responsibility for hacking a major steel mill in 2022, and for disrupting gas stations in 2023.

The sound of two loud explosions echoed across Tehran early Tuesday afternoon, with plumes of black smoke rising from the city’s north, near the headquarters of Iranian state television and other key government buildings, writes AP.

There has been no immediate comment from Iranian authorities about the cause or extent of the blasts. Reporting from inside Iran remains difficult to independently verify, as media there is tightly controlled.

In the last hour, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has urged residents of Tehran to evacuate immediately, following similar warnings issued by the Israeli military issued over the last few days.

During a briefing with the Israeli Defence Forces, Katz also issued a direct warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drawing a pointed comparison to Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, who was overthrown in 2003.

“I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and launching missiles at Israeli civilians,” Katz said. “He would do well to remember the fate of the dictator in the country neighbouring Iran who chose this same path against the State of Israel.”

The Israeli military confirmed it had earlier struck Tehran’s Qiyadah air base, claiming to have killed Ali Shadmani, the recently appointed commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces and a close ally of Khamenei. According to the IDF, Shadmani had served just four days in the top military role before being killed in what it described as a “precision strike.”

An IDF spokesperson said the military is “deepening and expanding achievements” across multiple targets in Iran and vowed to continue targeting missile sites, command centre's, and strategic infrastructure, including those involved in ground-to-ground and air-to-ground missile production.

Traffic reportedly remains heavy in parts of Tehran, though Iranian state media, which is tightly controlled, has provided limited information about the extent of damage or evacuations. Residents have also reported intermittent air defence activity overnight.

High Representative Kaja Kallas has also responded to Donald Trump's recent suggestions that the United States could get militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

"We're not involved in it. It's possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved," Trump told ABC News on Sunday.

Kallas made it clear she would not endorse such a move.

"When it comes to the United States getting involved, then it will definitely drag the region into broader conflict, and this is in nobody's interest," she said, answering a question from Euronews. "And from my call with Secretary of State Rubio, he emphasised that it's also not in their interest to be drawn into this conflict."

Kallas stressed the ongoing conflict could easily impact the wider region, with unpredictable consequences for all countries. "The risks (of) escalation and the risks of spillover effect are too great," she said. "Also, the risks of miscalculation, which is making this conflict even bigger."

As the fifth day of hostilities between Israel and Iran unfolds, both rhetoric and the risk of escalation are intensifying in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

About an hour ago, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has called on residents of Tehran to evacuate the city “immediately,” echoing a dramatic warning issued hours earlier by US President Donald Trump.

Read more below.

Tehran’s fate up in air as Trump vows ‘a real end’

The US president has issued repeated ominous warnings on the conflict’s fifth day as Israel refuses to rule out assassinating the Iranian supreme leader.…

The European Union should move forward with its proposal to lower the price cap on Russia's seaborne crude oil from $60 per barrel to $45 per barrel, despite the market turbulences caused by the military conflict between Israel and Iran, says High Representative Kaja Kallas.

The price cap was a ground-breaking measure established by G7 allies to curtail a crucial source of revenues behind Russia's war on Ukraine. Last week, the European Commission formally proposed a downward revision of the cap to further squeeze the Kremlin's war machine. The pitch, however, is believed to lack the endorsement from the United States. Diplomats in Brussels have suggested that, as a result, the review of the cap could be discarded to focus on the remaining elements of the 18th package of sanctions.

But Kallas believes the bloc should go it alone.

"I think that we should move forward with the (lower) oil price cap, especially because of the tensions also in the Middle East," Kallas said, warning the conflict in the Middle East could increase global oil prices and therefore allow Russia to earn more money from its clients.

"That means that they (will be) able to fund their war machine again in a bigger scale. So we definitely need to move on with the oil price gap."

The High Representative also struck down Russia's suggestion of playing the role of moderator in the Israel-Iran conflict, arguing the invasion of Ukraine was disqualifying factor. "Russia cannot be a mediator if they don't really believe in peace," she said.

The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to facilitate evacuations in response to the military conflict between Israel and Iran, says High Representative Kaja Kallas. The mechanism can be triggered to provide and coordinate emergency assistance to natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods, as well as to man-made crises, like a war.

"We have activated the Civil Protection Mechanism, and we are assisting member states to evacuate their citizens that wish to leave," Kallas said in a press conference after chairing a video call among the bloc's 27 foreign affairs ministers.

"In parallel, we stand ready to deploy civil protection experts and our naval operation ASPIDES (in the Red Sea) continues to protect merchant ships from Houthi attacks while providing valuable situational awareness," she added.

"We have member states that have planes evacuating (their nationals). We have member states who don't have planes, and we coordinate the efforts so that our citizens are safe."

Last week, the European Commission said it had put in place "appropriate measures" to safeguard the integrity of its diplomatic staff in the region. The presence is considered limited in scope.

We've just heard from High Representative Kaja Kallas, who chaired a video call of the EU's foreign affairs ministers to discuss the military conflict between Israel and Iran.

"Ministers called on all sides to abide by international law, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could spiral out of control," she said in her opening remarks.

"We all agreed the urgent need to de-escalation. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and diplomacy is the solution to prevent this," she added. "I will spare no efforts in this respect."

Citing the recent findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which found Iran to be in non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, Kallas said: "We cannot be leniant when Iran accelerates its nuclear programme."

Kallas said the EU would not "let our focus on Gaza slip" and urged "immediate" and "full" access to humanitarian aid, which Israel has heavily restricted, causing alarm across Europe.

Copyright: European Union, 2025.

We're just bringing comments to you now made by Donald Trump as he spoke to reporters after Air Force One took off from Canada.

Trump described his goal in the Middle East as “a real end,” which he explained could mean Iran “completely giving up” its nuclear programme. Trump was firm that Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions entirely.

"We’re looking at better than a ceasefire".

However, he also said he was “not too much in the mood to negotiate now."

Trump reiterated that Iran should have accepted the deal he proposed before the Israeli strikes began, a point he reiterated in a Truth Social post after landing in Washington.

Now back at the White House, Trump said he will meet with his Security Council this morning.

Iran’s state-run Tasnim news agency has shared photos claiming to show the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency engulfed in flames.

Citing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Tasnim reported that Mossad was hit by Iranian missile strikes.

“IRGC Aerospace Force fighters, in a precision operation, struck the military intelligence center despite the presence of advanced defense systems,” the agency stated on Telegram.

Israel has not issued any comment on the alleged attack.

In the last 20 minutes, the Israeli Defence Minister has called on residents of Tehran to evacuate their areas immediately, following instructions issued by the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation reports that the Israeli Air Force has begun carrying out attacks on western Iran.

More updates to follow.

The 27 ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union have finished their joint call to discuss the military escalation between Israel and Iran.

The call was chaired by High Representative Kaja Kallas, who is about to speak in Brussels and take questions from the journalists in the room.

Pictures from the Iranian Red Crescent Society show emergency services searching through rubble in Tehran after strikes hit "residential homes."

Israel has said it initially launched attacks on Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.

Credit: Iranian Red Crescent Society

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski spoke by phone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss recent Israeli military strikes on Iran, reports Iranian state media outlet IRNA.

Araghchi condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear sites, calling them violations of international law and urging the UN and all governments to hold Israel accountable.

Sikorski expressed deep concern over rising tensions and called on all parties to work to prevent further security deterioration in the region, according to the outlet. Poland's foreign ministry has not yet commented on the call.

Last night, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly held a joint phone call with the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK, and the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas to discuss what Tehran calls “Israeli aggression.”

In the conversation, excerpts of which were posted on Araghchi's Telegram channcel, the Iranian side condemned Israel’s reported attacks on nuclear facilities, military sites, and civilian areas, calling them a “clear violation of international law.”

“Every UN member state has a duty to oppose this aggression and stop Israel’s crimes,” said the Iranian Foreign Minister, according to a readout republished by state media.

He described the strikes as an “unprecedented blow to diplomacy”, warning that Iran’s armed forces would continue to respond and that the consequences of any further escalation would lie with Israel and its backers.

He also accused the United States of complicity, saying Washington had given support for the military action.

The EU foreign policy chief and the three European foreign ministers reportedly expressed regret over the situation and extended condolences for the civilian casualties. They reaffirmed the importance of diplomacy and offered to help de-escalate tensions.

Earlier, we reported that air raid sirens blasted in parts of Israel after a fresh wave of Iranian strikes. The IDF said Iran fired around 20-30 missiles into the countries, most of which were intercepted.

Below are some photos of the firefighters working to put out flames in a bus depot in Herzliyah, north of Tel Aviv.

Earlier today, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reports that Israel fired four rockets at the industrial zone in the northwestern city of Tabriz early this morning.

There has been no official confirmation from Israeli authorities, and details about potential damage or casualties remain unclear.

Tabriz is located in northwestern Iran and is one of the country's major cities.It's also home to a major air force base Israel has targeted in previous days.

Air raid sirens sounded across parts of Israel this morning as Iran launched a fresh wave of at least 20 missiles, according to the Israeli military. Emergency services say at least 10 people were injured on their way to shelters.

Explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, though it's still unclear which areas were directly hit. Israeli media report unconfirmed claims of a missile falling in the greater Tel Aviv area, and a direct hit on a building in Herzliya.

The IDF says search and rescue teams are operating at several locations in the capital and central Israel. Below is video footage showing the aftermath of the strikes at a bus depot in central Israel.

The commander of Iran’s ground forces says the country has launched a new wave of “strong attacks” using advanced weaponry and warns that operations will intensify in the coming hours.

“We have started a wave of strong attacks using advanced weapons and will intensify in the coming hours,” the commander said, in remarks carried by state-affiliated media.

There are no immediate details on the targets or nature of the weaponry being used. We’ll bring more updates as they come in.

Donald Trump has said he wants Iran to “give up entirely” on its nuclear ambitions, describing his goal as a “real end” to what he called the “nuclear problem.”

The comments, reported by a CBS News journalist on social media, were made during Trump’s late-night departure from the G7 summit in Canada. The president left the meeting early.

Asked whether Israeli strikes on Iran would ease, Trump replied: “You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.”

He added he “may” send US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice-President JD Vance to engage with Iranian officials, but that it would depend “on what happens when I get back.”

Pressed on whether US intervention could neutralise Iran’s nuclear programme, Trump said he hoped it would be “wiped out long before that.”

The Editor-in-chief of the Tehran Times, Iran’s oldest English-language daily, has issued a direct message to US President Donald Trump following his call for residents of Tehran to evacuate.

"Mr. Trump! We won’t evacuate the Tehran Times, much less Tehran!"

The remark comes after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,” claiming Iran had failed to agree to a weapons deal he proposed.

The post was published shortly after Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings for parts of central Tehran ahead of planned strikes targeting military infrastructure.

Videos and photos posted on social media show heavy traffic seen leaving Tehran, although there is no official data from Iranian authorities, who have not acknowledged any mass movement of civilians.

As a reminder, media in Iran remains tightly controlled and information about internal conditions is filtered by state-run outlets.

More on that latest missile strike from Iran that prompted the IDF to direct citizens to emergency shelters. The IDF says it consisted of at least 20-30 missiles directed toward Israel..

Loud explosions were reported in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem before the military gave the all-clear for residents to leave protected spaces.

The IDF says search and rescue teams are operating at multiple sites where missiles are believed to have fallen. Israeli police confirmed that missiles and shrapnel landed in the Tel Aviv area, causing material damage but no injuries.

Meanwhile, the fire and rescue service said there was a report of a missile strike and fire in the Dan district, near Tel Aviv. Emergency services added that at least 10 people were injured.

More on that G7 meeting held in Canada, which was overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East. Leaders of the Group of Seven countries signed a joint statement calling for de-escalation of fighting between Israel and Iran, while reaffirming that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear bomb.

The joint statement reads:

"We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.

"In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.

"We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians.

"Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror.

"We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

"We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.

“We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability.”

Following earlier missile strikes on Israel, the country's emergency services have reported that no casualties have been identified. However, 10 people were injured while making their way to shelters.

Magen David Adom emergency teams are providing medical treatment to those injured.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that it has eliminated Ali Shadmani, Iran’s war-time chief of staff and the regime’s top military commander, in a targeted strike in Tehran.

According to the IDF, the operation was carried out following precise intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate and a sudden opportunity overnight.

Shadmani was appointed War-Time Chief of Staff and Commander of the Emergency Command of the Iranian Armed Forces after the previous chief, Alaa Ali Rashid, was killed in an earlier strike during Operation "Rising Lion."

This latest elimination is part of a broader campaign by Israel against Iran’s senior military leadership.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has denied reports he left the G7 meeting in Canada early to work on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran.

Trump called French President Emmanuel Macron “publicity seeking” and said Macron “has no idea” why he was returning to Washington.

Macron had earlier suggested that Trump made an offer to help broker a ceasefire. Trump responded by saying the reason for his departure was “much bigger” and unrelated to any ceasefire efforts.

Trump’s statement in full:

"Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong!

He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!"

Watch Macron's original comments below.

Israeli media are reporting that a missile has fallen in the greater Tel Aviv area, with a direct hit on a building in Herzliya.

Emergency services have not yet confirmed any injuries. A spokesperson for Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, said:

"Following the sirens heard in the past few minutes, MDA teams have gone out to survey the sites where reports were received. Further updates will be provided if necessary."



The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) added that residents were allowed to leave protected spaces approximately 20 minutes after the sirens were first sounded.

The Israeli military said another wave of missiles have been launched from Iran and warned Israelis to find shelter.

Good morning and welcome to our live blog.

If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire on the fifth day of the conflict.

• The Israeli military has just issued a shelter-in-place order for citizens as a fresh wave of Iranian missiles targets northern Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
• Overnight, Iranian state media reported heavy explosions and air defense activity in Tehran.
• US President Donald Trump has urged the people of Tehran to “evacuate” and left the G7 summit early, though he denied reports from French President Emmanuel Macron that his early departure was to work on a ceasefire deal.

Stay with us for updates throughout the morning.