Trump issues final ultimatum to Tehran as Israeli jets attack Khamenei’s secret bunker

Trump’s statements since the conflict began

Since the start of the conflict, Trump has repeatedly revised his war goals. In an eight-minute video statement published on Truth Social on Saturday (February 28), he said the goal was regime change in Iran. Trump said operational goals included destroying Iran’s military and missile capabilities, preventing the country from acquiring nuclear weapons and ultimately overthrowing its regime.

On Tuesday, he said Iranian leaders “want to talk” amid joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Tehran, but added that “it’s too late.” Trump also claimed that “Iran’s air defense, air force, navy and leadership are gone.”

He had previously said that the United States has “the ability to last much longer” than the planned four to five week timeline for military operations against Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh criticized Trump’s call for a leadership change in Tehran while speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Friday. The United States also said it should have a say in selecting new leadership in Iran and that Trump should be involved in the process.

Describing Iran as an “anchor of stability” in the Strait of Hormuz and a “responsible power,” Khatibzadeh said: “President Trump is calling for a change of leadership in Iran while he can’t even name the mayor of New York. Can you imagine this colonial approach? While he would like to see democracy at home, he would like to overthrow the democratically elected president of Iran.”

Iran’s response

Iran has targeted Israel, as well as multiple Gulf states that host US military facilities. Explosions were heard inside Israel on Friday as Israeli air defenses were activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also reported new drone and missile attacks.

Meanwhile, Israel expanded the war to Lebanon and attacked the capital, Beirut, on Friday after ordering an unprecedented evacuation of all of the city’s southern suburbs. Israel also launched a new wave of strikes against Iran, saying 50 of its fighter jets had hit a bunker still used by Iran’s leadership beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Markets fall

Trump’s demand that Iran surrender, and the likelihood that it could complicate any quick path to ending the conflict, sent European and US stock indexes tumbling on Friday. Oil prices rose to their highest levels in years as the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route was effectively closed. Damage to major oil and gas facilities and continued missile and drone attacks have disrupted supplies, pushing prices above $90 a barrel and driving up fuel costs around the world.

Trump on rising gas prices

Trump also said he is not concerned about rising gasoline or gas prices in the United States and stated that the military campaign remains his main objective, Reuters reported. He said: “I don’t have any worries about it. They will go down very quickly when this is over, and if they go up, they will go up, but this is much more important than gas prices going up a little.”