Published: 2:01am, 17 Jun 2025Updated: 8:56am, 17 Jun 2025
US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short his G7 summit visit to Canada, the White House announced, just minutes after the president issued a stark warning on social media urging the immediate evacuation of Tehran – a city of nearly 9.5 million people – amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
He then told reporters that he needed to return to Washington “for obvious reasons … as soon as I can”, adding: “I wish I could stay back but [the G7 leaders] understand. This is big stuff.”
Earlier on Monday, Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning affecting up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country’s state broadcaster and police headquarters. Three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, are also in the area.
Iran state television lost service after an Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building in Tehran.
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The blast happened as a presenter was live on television lambasting Israel, before she was seen hurrying from her seat, Iranian media reported, sharing a video of the incident in which loud explosions could be seen and heard.
