Middle East Trump Demands Iran’s "Unconditional Surrender" as Tensions Escalate Across Middle East

[Social Media]

 

Trump Demands Iran’s "Unconditional Surrender" as Tensions Escalate Across Middle East

 

At the G7 summit, international leaders responded with a mix of alarm and support as the Israel-Iran conflict deepened, with U.S. President Donald Trump dramatically calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” His rhetoric follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory that have drawn both praise and warnings from Western allies.

 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly praised Israel’s recent military campaign, calling it “the dirty work” being done on behalf of others. Speaking to broadcaster ZDF, Merz said, “I can only say I have the greatest respect for the fact that the Israeli army and the Israeli government had the courage to do this.” He accused Iran’s leadership of having “brought death and destruction to the world with attacks, with murder and manslaughter, with Hezbollah, with Hamas.”

 

Merz also signaled that diplomacy was still possible, adding, “If they are to return to the negotiating table, there would be no need for further military interventions.” However, he warned that should Iran remain defiant, “the complete destruction” of its nuclear program could become necessary. He added, “I assume the programme is largely over,” though he acknowledged that “Israel lacks the weapons necessary to completely destroy it, but the US does.”

 

In a separate appearance on Germany’s Welt TV, Merz noted that Israel’s offensive had “weakened” Iran’s leadership and speculated that it “will probably not return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain.”

 

Meanwhile, CBS News reported that President Trump is considering a joint military operation with Israel to target Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified site at Fordow. Sources familiar with the matter said this was expected to be on the agenda during a meeting in the White House Situation Room, although consensus had not yet been reached among Trump’s top advisers.

 

Asked about the president’s aims, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated, “We can take his [Trump's] word for his word.” She added, “I'm not going to speculate in a larger sense on what that would mean. That is up to the president, he is the singular guiding hand about what will be occurring from this point forward.”

 

As military activity surged, reports emerged of further explosions in Tehran. AFP cited “loud blasts” across the capital, while Iran’s state-run Irna described the detonations as “continuous and intense.” In response to the escalating situation, UK Defence Secretary John Healey called it “a dangerous moment” for the region. While reaffirming Britain’s longstanding support for Israel’s security and its concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Healey revealed that the UK had deployed additional Typhoon jets to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to bolster regional security and protect British personnel, now on high alert.

 

Asked about the growing presence of U.S. and UK military forces, Healey emphasized that President Trump continues to push Tehran toward negotiations. He described the joint military buildup as “reinforcing the messages to Iran that the diplomatic route is the way to settle the situation.”

 

President Trump’s online posts have intensified the already volatile atmosphere. In a series of messages late Monday, he declared: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” He also claimed the U.S. had “complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” and ominously warned Iran’s leadership: “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 concluded with a stark warning: “We don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

 

With multiple global powers now directly involved and diplomatic channels hanging by a thread, the prospect of a broader regional conflict looms ever closer.

 

Related Topic:

G7 Backs Israel, Condemns Iran Amid Rising Tensions in the Middle East

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-06-18

 

 

[sharot724]

Donald Trump Indicates United States has Joined War with Iran

 

Donald Trump Indicates United States has Joined War with Iran

[novacova]

Iran surrender? Unconditionally? Never going to happen. They’ll sacrifice their citizens as human shields to their own demise of a heap of rubble before that ever happens.

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

With multiple global powers now directly involved and diplomatic channels hanging by a thread, the prospect of a broader regional conflict looms ever closer.

I haven't seen any other middle east country coming out in support of Iran. Maybe I missed it. I have , however, seen different nations supplying airtankers including the UK, France and Hungary and they're flying out of Germany. The US has a couple of dozen airtankers in the region with more on the way. One carrier strike force in the Arabian Sea with the Nimitz on the way to join it and they'll probably move up into the Persian Gulf. Not long IMO before the B2's go in with the 30,000 lb. bunker busters.

[Tug]

14 minutes ago, novacova said:

Iran surrender? Unconditionally? Never going to happen. They’ll sacrifice their citizens as human shields to their own demise of a heap of rubble before that ever happens.

I actually agree with you on this one,nothing unifies a nation more quickly that being attacked.trump can say what he pleases I don’t think it will help.

[Jingthing]

8 minutes ago, Tug said:

I actually agree with you on this one,nothing unifies a nation more quickly that being attacked.trump can say what he pleases I don’t think it will help.

It's not that simple in this case. There is massive opposition to the Iranian regime. It could indeed topple, Syrian style. 

[jimmybcool]

For once I agree with JT.  I see it very possible that the people of Iran are tiring of being international outcasts and their lifestyle stifled economically and by the rabid religious edicts of the regime.

 

While the regime might be willing to sacrifice Iranians the people there might not stand for it.  How long before the Iran army resists orders that result in the death of their own relatives?

[novacova]

34 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's not that simple in this case. There is massive opposition to the Iranian regime. It could indeed topple, Syrian style. 

Not simple by any means. Toppling the regime would be a horrendous task and a messy civil conflict that most likely would not end well in a dystopian state of anarchy. The cleanest method with the least amount of casualties would be that the West to clean out the regime and help structure a clean and free election for a new government. 

[Tug]

48 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's not that simple in this case. There is massive opposition to the Iranian regime. It could indeed topple, Syrian style. 

I sincerely hope so that would be great

4 minutes ago, novacova said:

Not simple by any means. Toppling the regime would be a horrendous task and a messy civil conflict that most likely would not end well in a dystopian state of anarchy. The cleanest method with the least amount of casualties would be that the West to clean out the regime and help structure a clean and free election for a new government. 

To be perfectly honest with you I think that’s exactly what bush jr had in mind for Iraq unfortunately it didn’t pan out it would be great if it did tho hope it’s over quickly.

[Hanaguma]

13 minutes ago, novacova said:

Not simple by any means. Toppling the regime would be a horrendous task and a messy civil conflict that most likely would not end well in a dystopian state of anarchy. The cleanest method with the least amount of casualties would be that thIe West to clean out the regime and help structure a clean and free election for a new government. 

It's delicate. A regime toppled from the outside rarely works out well. But, IF the coditions for the people to do it themselves are created, then positive results may occur.  That is why the old Assahola himself hasn't been taken out yet.  Killing the leader, even an unpopular one, can have unintended consequences.  

[Felton Jarvis]

Iran and Iraq are the "tarbaby" of the Middle East. Getting in is easy, getting OUT is another matter.

[novacova]

7 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

It's delicate. A regime toppled from the outside rarely works out well. But, IF the coditions for the people to do it themselves are created, then positive results may occur.  That is why the old Assahola himself hasn't been taken out yet.  Killing the leader, even an unpopular one, can have unintended consequences.  

Sure thing that toppling regimes from outside rarely works and recent events have shown us that. Though the IRGC has a tremendous amount of military power, the civilian population have nothing and would take an immense amount military hardware from the outside with challenging logistics and a massive IRGC fraction and would result in possibly one of the worst civil conflicts in recent history. War sucks, civil wars are worse due to the lack of wherewithal of trust. The cleanest method is probably for the West to knock out the regime and step out of the way afterwards.

[seajae]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

It's not that simple in this case. There is massive opposition to the Iranian regime. It could indeed topple, Syrian style. 

we can only hope that does happen, time for religion to take a back seat and allow the people to live a decent life

[Quentin Zen]

2 hours ago, novacova said:

Iran surrender? Unconditionally? Never going to happen. They’ll sacrifice their citizens as human shields to their own demise of a heap of rubble before that ever happens.

Tell me you have never been to Iran without telling me you have never been to Iran.

 

Internet Generals.   Listen to me, I have a keyboard!!!!!  Nuclear war will happen if their underground bunker is compromised in Tehran.  If any key admin. building is bombed, human shields will be formed!!!!  Biological warfare will happen if this goes on for 23 days , 19 minutes.  29 billion usd has been stolen, 8234 billion is being stolen right now.  3943 generals told me they will surrender.  239874324 soldiers told me they will stop fighting.  928674324 people told me they are not in favor of the regime.  982374234 soldiers told me this is WW3.  90283743289432 humans told me this will destroy Earth.  

 

I expect humans to pile up to the moon!!!!  If they fight on a full moon, 920836347328947234 people will attack McD's.  I know.

 

Let me tell you I know nothing without telling you I know nothing.  

 

 

[CanadaSam]

I object to Trump making this statement, this is a war being fought primarily between Israel and Iran.

 

He has nothing to do with it, and did basically nothing to either prevent or provoke it.

 

Just wants to be in the limelight, yet again.

[gargamon]

So why does Trump think he's king of the world? Making empty threats against everyone and expecting them to immediately bend the knee. GFL. 

[altayvan]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I haven't seen any other middle east country coming out in support of Iran. Maybe I missed it. I have , however, seen different nations supplying airtankers including the UK, France and Hungary and they're flying out of Germany. The US has a couple of dozen airtankers in the region with more on the way. One carrier strike force in the Arabian Sea with the Nimitz on the way to join it and they'll probably move up into the Persian Gulf. Not long IMO before the B2's go in with the 30,000 lb. bunker busters.

that's the joke. Iran does the dirty work of Islamists funding wars wherever they find allies in the middle east. but they don't even know why they do it and no one appreciates them anyway

[Eric Loh]

Is this another WMD US adventurism to find no nuclear weapons in Iran and years away to making any. 

[Hawaiian]

29 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

I object to Trump making this statement, this is a war being fought primarily between Israel and Iran.

 

He has nothing to do with it, and did basically nothing to either prevent or provoke it.

 

Just wants to be in the limelight, yet again.

Eventually the world will know if and how involved the U.S has been in this conflict.

[Hawaiian]

1 minute ago, Eric Loh said:

Is this another WMD US adventurism to find no nuclear weapons in Iran and years away to making any. 

Nuclear weapons?  Hopefully not yet.  But why the highly enriched uranium?  Not necessary for nuclear power plants as Iran claims.

[CanadaSam]

IF the press are to be believed, this was a unilateral decision by Israel to start this "war".

 

Now that it's begun, not much hope for it to stop until it's (destructive) conclusion.

 

I support it, because I despise so-called "islamic" terrorism.

 

My point being, not much help has been provided by Trump or any other nation, or at least not reported (yet).

 

But support should be forthcoming, and quickly, and hopefully put all those "rabid" islamists 6 feet under, asap.

 

Hopefully with minimal civilian innocent lives, but in war, you know what happens.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Tug said:

I sincerely hope so that would be great

To be perfectly honest with you I think that’s exactly what bush jr had in mind for Iraq unfortunately it didn’t pan out it would be great if it did tho hope it’s over quickly.

 

As long as nobody tries to install a US style democracy, which now has much negative baggage and very little credibility, the US democracy 'system' is totally corrupt, full of massive amounts of vote buying and votes gained through big cronyism. Plus the cap on it all: Whoever spends the most on electioneering is 99% sure to be the next president. Not what real democracy is all about.

 

In fact the US democracy system needs a major overhaul, it needs to adopt some of the praised credibility points found in the systems used by numerous other countries. 

[Bannoi]

Nobody takes any notice of what Trump says anymore.

[sqwakvfr]

I believe Donald Trump is playing "I dare you to Iran".  

 

1. Increase US Military personnel in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Coouncil) countries. Currently the US military has growing number of personnel in Kuwati, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. i don't think Iranian leaders would attack US bases in these countries because attacking them would be attacking the host nation as well.  I don't think Iran wants conflict with any of these countries.  I have been to  US bases in Kuwait (Camp Arifijian which located next to the largest oil refinery I have ever seen and Camp Buehring which is located in the Udari desert and near the Iraqi border. There were and now probably more soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen there now.

 

2. Dare Iran to attack any of the growing number of US Naval vessels in the Arabian peninsula. But then Iran would  get a barrage F-18 and F-35 sorties day and night. 

 

When an AO gets this crowded something is bound to happen eventually.  I hope not because this is Israel's war just like the way Donald Trump keeps saying Ukraine and Russia is not our battle. 

[Social Media]

Please discuss the topic, it is not about how Israel got nuclear weapons or its Iron Dome which is working as designed.

 

 

Trump Demands Iran’s "Unconditional Surrender" as Tensions Escalate Across Middle East

 

[Evil Penevil]

Live Updates: Trump Says ‘Nobody Knows’ His Plans on Iran

President Trump said he “may” or “may not” order U.S. forces to attack Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected his call for “unconditional surrender.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/18/world/israel-iran-trump

 

Trump may be playing "Chicken" with Iran for the highest stakes possible.  Who will swerve first, Trump or Khamenei?  It all hangs on how badly Khamenei wants he and his people to become martyrs.  Religion, rather than rationality, has been a huge factor in Iranian governmental decisions since the 1979 revolution brought Ruhollah Khomeini to power. It's why Khamenei may not back down.

 

Trump and Netanyahu may also be betting heavily on an overthrow of the Islamist regime by the Iranian armed forces and ordinary people, but they could be disappointed.  While there is a lot of opposition within Iran, it isn't well organized and lacks the means and strategy to bring down the current rulers.

[Bkk Brian]

9 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

Live Updates: Trump Says ‘Nobody Knows’ His Plans on Iran

President Trump said he “may” or “may not” order U.S. forces to attack Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected his call for “unconditional surrender.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/18/world/israel-iran-trump

 

Trump may be playing "Chicken" with Iran for the highest stakes possible.  Who will swerve first, Trump or Khamenei?  It all hangs on how badly Khamenei wants he and his people to become martyrs.  Religion, rather than rationality, has been a huge factor in Iranian governmental decisions since the 1979 revolution brought Ruhollah Khomeini to power. It's why Khamenei may not back down.

 

Trump and Netanyahu may also be betting heavily on an overthrow of the Islamist regime by the Iranian armed forces and ordinary people, but they could be disappointed.  While there is a lot of opposition within Iran, it isn't well organized and lacks the means and strategy to bring down the current rulers.

The final attack plans are approved by Trump. Now its a wait and see........

 

Trump privately approved attack plans for Iran pending final order, WSJ reports

WASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told senior aides late Tuesday that he approved attack plans for Iran but has withheld a final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing three people familiar with the deliberations.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-privately-approved-attack-plans-iran-pending-final-order-wsj-reports-2025-06-18/