US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that the U.S. knows the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but has chosen not to target him “for now.” He called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” amid the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, now entering its fifth day.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump posted on social media. “He’s an easy target, but we won’t take him out—at least not yet. But missile attacks on civilians and U.S. troops must stop. Our patience is running out.”

Returning early from the G7 summit, Trump said he was seeking a “real end” to the conflict and total abandonment of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he criticized Iran’s leaders for not agreeing to a deal, saying he was “not in the mood to negotiate.”

Despite U.S. intelligence maintaining that Iran isn’t actively building a nuclear bomb, Trump dismissed those assessments, insisting Tehran was close. He also rejected a proposed Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, though he appeared to be edging toward deeper American involvement as U.S. military assets reposition in the region.

Israel claims its strikes have devastated Iran’s air defenses and is seeking U.S. support—including bunker-busting bombs—to destroy key nuclear facilities like Fordo, which lies deep underground. While Trump has not ruled out diplomacy, he signaled a harder stance, calling for immediate evacuations in Tehran and warning that “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox News to reaffirm that the U.S. remains “postured defensively” in the region, as Trump’s MAGA base grows divided over potential U.S. military escalation. Some Trump-aligned voices, such as Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have expressed concern, while allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham are urging a more aggressive approach.

Source: With inputs from agency