Baran Press + Agencies
As the Israeli offensive against Iran entered its fifth day, President Donald Trump issued a forceful demand for Iranian citizens to immediately evacuate Tehran. The stark warning came as reports from Israeli media claimed the destruction of a backup copy of Iran's nuclear archive and intense Israeli airstrikes battered Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases.
Writing on his "Truth Social" platform, Trump declared, "Everyone evacuate Tehran immediately!" He reiterated his long-held assertion that Iran should have agreed to an agreement curbing its nuclear ambitions, emphasizing, "Tehran cannot possess nuclear weapons." In a series of subsequent social media posts, Trump escalated his demands, calling for "unconditional surrender" from Iran. "We don't want rockets fired at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is running out. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added.
Regarding Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump stated, "We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader is hiding. He's an easy target, but he's safe there – we won't eliminate him, at least not for now." He also asserted complete U.S. control over Iranian airspace.
Echoing the dire warnings, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, during a meeting with senior military commanders in Tel Aviv, reportedly threatened Khamenei with a fate similar to that of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein if he continued to commit "war crimes against Israel."
Tehran Sees Unprecedented Exodus
Amid the escalating threats, Tehran witnessed an unprecedented civilian exodus. Large numbers of residents streamed out of the capital as Israel hinted at "harsher and broader" new strikes than its recent aerial assault. Several nations have also announced the commencement of evacuations for their citizens from both Israel and Iran.
Central Tehran was notably deserted on Tuesday morning, with many businesses shuttered. The historic Grand Bazaar also remained closed, a rare occurrence typically reserved for anti-government protests or the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Roads leading west from Tehran experienced crippling congestion, with many apparently heading towards the Caspian Sea region. Long queues formed at gas stations across the capital.
A CNN correspondent in Tehran reported that a journey typically lasting three hours stretched to over 14, as residents in the northern region opened their homes to accommodate the displaced.
Israeli media reported that a backup copy of Iran's nuclear archive was destroyed during the ongoing offensive. This follows a 2018 Mossad operation that reportedly secured an original copy from deep within Iranian territory. The destroyed backup allegedly contained extensive information related to Iranian scientists, including nine who were reportedly assassinated in Israel's initial "preemptive" strike.
While Israel's Channel 14 quoted a military source threatening that "Tehran will burn" and alluding to a comprehensive operation targeting official headquarters and IRGC facilities, Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at several Israeli areas, including Haifa and Tel Aviv. International efforts to de-escalate the volatile situation are intensifying.
Violent explosions reverberated across parts of Tehran on Tuesday. Air defenses engaged suspected Israeli fighter jets and drones in multiple Iranian cities from early morning, with smoke seen rising in several districts of the Iranian capital after explosions attributed to suspected Israeli projectiles.
A security official in Isfahan province confirmed that air defenses were active Tuesday morning in Natanz, home to key nuclear facilities located 320 kilometers away, according to Iranian state media.
The Israeli military announced early Tuesday that it had conducted extensive attacks on military sites in western Iran. These strikes reportedly targeted dozens of surface-to-surface missile storage facilities and launch sites, as well as surface-to-air missile systems and drone depots. The IDF released images and videos purportedly documenting the destruction, including a clip showing a three-missile strike on a surface-to-air battery.
"Ham Mihan" newspaper reported, "Two explosions were heard in Tabriz five minutes apart," while the state-run Mehr agency stated that "dense smoke was seen around Tabriz on Tuesday morning after the explosion," accompanied by video footage. Tabriz, located over 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran, hosts a major Iranian air force base that has been a target for Israel in recent days.
By evening, IRGC and Iranian army air force bases were subjected to further Israeli airstrikes and missile attacks. Iranian media reported explosions in northern and eastern Isfahan, with one attack occurring near the Isfahan refinery. The Eighth Combat Air Base, one of Iran's most formidable airbases, was reportedly a target of severe raids, with the extent of losses yet unknown.
Video footage also circulated showing the targeting of an IRGC missile base in the city of Najafabad, near Isfahan.
Earlier, IRGC media announced an Israeli missile attack on a checkpoint in Kashan, central Iran, early Tuesday, resulting in casualties, injuries, and vehicle damage. Israel has launched intense strikes on Iranian military targets, including weapons storage sites and missile launchers.
In Shiraz, the Mehr agency reported that air defenses engaged hostile targets in the southern city's airspace, though no explosions were specified. Shiraz hosts the "Marsad" base, the IRGC's largest missile base.
High-Profile Assassination Confirmed
In a significant development concerning leadership targeting, the Israeli army announced the assassination of Major General Ali Shadmani, commander of the IRGC's "Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters" in Tehran. This occurred just days after his appointment as successor to Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, who was reportedly killed earlier during Israel's initial preemptive strikes on Iran.
Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesperson for Arab media, posted on X (formerly Twitter): "The IDF has for the second time eliminated Iran's Chief of Staff of War, and the Iranian regime's highest military commander, Ali Shadmani."
Iran Adopts "Small Batches" Missile Tactic
In response to the Israeli onslaught, the Iranian army claimed it targeted an Israeli military intelligence center in Tel Aviv with a guided missile, despite robust enemy defense systems reportedly aided by the Americans, according to Iran's Fars news agency.
Later, IRGC-affiliated media reported that "Iran launched between five to eight ballistic missiles at Israel." These reports also indicated a "tactical change" in missile launches, suggesting a reduction in the number of missiles fired by Iran since Monday evening.
Israeli military spokespersons in their media outlets suggested this could indicate a dwindling number of missiles Iran possesses or is capable of launching. The Israeli army announced it had destroyed 120 Iranian missile launchers, claiming this represents one-third of Iran's total launch platforms.
The current conflict follows an "unprecedented" preemptive Israeli military strike on Friday, June 13, dubbed "Rising Lion," which targeted sites in Iran and reportedly resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iranian forces launched a series of attacks on Friday evening with over 200 aerial missiles targeting various areas in Tel Aviv, leading to three Israeli fatalities and over 63 injuries, according to Israeli emergency services.