Tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel continue to rise sharply, with President Donald Trump making one of his most direct threats yet toward Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump stated that the U.S. intelligence community knows the whereabouts of Khamenei, referring to him as an “easy target,” but said the U.S. would not move to kill him—“at least not for now.”
“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,” Trump wrote.
“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
The remarks came shortly after reports emerged that Major General Ali Shadmani, recently appointed commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a command center in Tehran. The IDF claimed responsibility for the strike, noting that Shadmani oversaw coordination between the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Shadmani’s appointment on June 13 came after the death of Major General Gholam Ali Rashid in another Israeli strike. In response to the growing losses, Iran’s Supreme Leader has been rapidly reshuffling the upper ranks of Iran’s military, including appointing Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi as Chief of Staff following the reported death of his predecessor, Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri.
Amid these developments, U.S. Vice President JD Vance also made a statement on social media defending Trump’s stance and warning against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways – the easy way or the ‘other’ way,” Vance posted.
“He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president.”
Trump reinforced that message with an all-caps demand for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and later added, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”
Although the U.S. has not officially entered the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Biden-Trump administration has escalated military readiness in the region. U.S. defense officials confirmed that F-16, F-22, and F-35 fighter aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East. Additionally, aircraft carriers and warships capable of intercepting missiles have been repositioned to both Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
While the Pentagon insists the moves are defensive, the regional buildup signals that Washington is preparing for the possibility of deeper involvement as the situation deteriorates.
Meanwhile, voices from within the U.S. government continue to caution against escalation. One member of Congress stated on X, formerly Twitter:
“No one is attacking or has attacked Americans. It’s time to stop dragging Americans into war and letting Israel once again get America involved in their chosen war. Stand up for the Americans who believed you wanted peace and don’t commit another generation of Americans into a costly war.”
The growing military pressure follows Israel’s claim that Iran is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran strongly denies. Tehran maintains its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
As military movements intensify and rhetoric heats up, the potential for a wider regional war looms larger than ever.