Donald Trump said on Tuesday that they know where the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is hiding, although he emphasized that Washington is not going to “take him out, at least not for now.” “He is an easy target,” he added.
His statements came minutes after the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, stated that Trump may consider it necessary to take “new actions” aimed at stopping Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Will the United States attack Iran?
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. 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,” said the President of the United States in a message on Truth Social.
Trump, who urged Iran to “unconditional surrender” in another post, also stated that the United States has “complete and total control of the skies over Iran”, reaffirming the same words expressed yesterday by Benjamin Netanyahu after the wave of bombings initiated last week by Israel and which, according to the prime minister, has destroyed “a large number” of missile launchers and half of Tehran’s drones.
Early in the morning of this Tuesday, the President of the United States told some journalists aboard Air Force One on his return trip from Canada, after leaving the G7 Summit early, that he was looking for “a real end, not a ceasefire” in the conflict between Israel and Iran, and that he “was not in the mood to negotiate.”
Donald Trump also attacked the President of France for stating that the American president had left the G7 early to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron...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,” he commented on Truth Social.
Vice President Vance asks to trust Trump
JD Vance praised Trump’s “restraint” and said that “the final decision lies with the president” regarding the role the United States will play in the Middle East conflict. “I think he has earned our trust on this issue,” added the Administration’s “number two,” before pointing out that, “whatever he does,” he will keep the American Armed Forces serving the interests of the United States.
The vice president said he is trying to address the “craziness” he would be reading about this issue and agreed with Trump that “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” an argument also used by Israel to justify the wave of attacks that began on Friday and continue this Tuesday for the fifth consecutive day.
According to various sources, JD Vance’s comments were aimed at the base of the far-right in the United States and some of its activists, such as Tucker Carlson, who oppose U.S. intervention in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Vance warned that Iran could give up uranium enrichment while still maintaining its nuclear industry for peaceful purposes.
According to official sources from both countries, since Israel began its bombardments against Iran last Friday, the Islamic Republic has reported 224 deaths, while in Israel at least 24 people have died in Iranian missile and drone attacks.