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Donald Trump said that Iran had reached out seeking negotiations, although he offered no further details.

US President Donald Trump left open the possibility of the United States joining Israeli military action against Iran as he claimed that Tehran had made overtures to negotiate.

“I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do," Donald Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn amid a sharp escalation in the Middle East as Israel claimed responsibility for airstrikes on military targets in Tehran, including what it described as Iran’s “internal security headquarters."

Israel Targets ‘Symbols of Governance’ In Tehran

Israeli Defence Minister Katz confirmed that Israeli Air Force jets had struck key Iranian infrastructure, including a building he described as central to the regime’s internal repression apparatus.

“Air Force jets have just destroyed the internal security headquarters of the Iranian regime – the main arm of repression of the Iranian dictator," Katz said, adding, “We will strike symbols of governance and hit the Ayatollah regime wherever it may be."

Donald Trump Hints At Iranian Outreach

Donald Trump said that Iran had reached out seeking negotiations, although he offered no further details. There has been no official confirmation from Tehran or the White House regarding any new diplomatic outreach from Iran.

In a social media post, Donald Trump threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and said the US knew where he was. He wrote, “He is an easy target, but is safe there. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin."

Another post from Donald Trump simply read: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" following which Iran’s supreme leader said the country would never surrender.

“Any form of US military intervention will undoubtedly be met with irreparable harm," Khamenei said, adding, “Wise people who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation in the language of threats, because Iranians are not those who surrender."

First Published:

June 18, 2025, 20:07 IST