G7 says backs Israel's self-defense, calls Iran a source of terror

Tehran and the White House are discussing the possibility of a meeting this week joining Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, Axios reported citing four sources briefed on the issue.

The subject, Axios reported, would be a nuclear deal and an Israel-Iran ceasefire.

"They do want to talk," Axios cited a senior US official as saying. "But what we don't know is, 'have they been brought to their knees fully so that they realize that in order to have a country, they have to talk?' And assuming they get there, is there any degree of enrichment you would allow them to have?"

The official said Trump sees the potential use of US bunker-busting bombs which could be used on Iran's nuclear program as potential leverage in the talks with Iran.

British maritime security firm Ambrey flagged an incident near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, without elaborating.

It said it was aware of an incident 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in United Arab Emirates.

"We've pulled off a number of surprises. When the dust settles, you're going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple," Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to Washington told Merit TV on Monday in an interview.

Leiter suggested only the United States had the air power to knock out a formidable underground nuclear facility in Iran from the sky.

“In order for Fordow to be taken out by a bomb from the sky, the only country in the world that has that bomb is the United States," he said.

"That’s a decision the United States has to take, whether or not it chooses to actually pursue that course,” he said.

Here's a brief summary of major developments as the conflict entered its fifth day.

Trump's remarks, US role

• President Trump said Tehran should be evacuated immediately in a social media post Monday night.
• Hours before, Trump said Iran and Israel “may have to fight to the end,” though peace is preferable.
• Trump declined to say if he asked Israel to pause attacks.
• Speculation grew that the US might join Israeli strikes after Trump’s early G7 exit and social media posts; his deputy assistant dismissed the reports as "fake news" on X.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth said US is “postured defensively” but all options remain on the table.

Israel hits Tehran air and intel sites

• Israel said it destroyed two Iranian F14 fighter jets on the ground at Tehran's Mehrabad airport.
• Israeli strikes hit Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in northern Tehran, following an evacuation warning to all residents of District 3—an area with an estimated 300,000 people.
• Netanyahu told Iran International the strikes offer a chance for regime change.
• The Israeli army said 100 Iranian targets were struck in central Iran, and one-third of missile launchers were dismantled.

Iran launches more missiles, vows fight

• Iran launched dozens of missiles early Monday, killing at least eight in central Israel. Multiple missiles were also fired early Tuesday but left no casualties.
• IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour said Iran would continue operations even if Israeli strikes stopped.
• Eight IRGC and Basij members were killed in Khondab; two others in Zanjan.

Rising toll from ongoing hostilities

• Iran says more than 200 have been killed since Friday, including 14 nuclear scientists.
• At least 21 Israelis killed since the start of the conflict; a few hundred wounded.
• Rights group HRANA estimated 1100 casualties in Iran, killed and injured
• Israeli strikes killed four top Iranian intelligence figures in Tehran.
• Judiciary chief vowed wartime trials for alleged collaborators.

Civilians flee Tehran as strikes widen

• Almost every Tehran neighborhood has been struck, prompting a mass exodus.
• Heavy traffic was reported in major roads as people rushed to leave the capital for safer regions, especially by the Caspian Sea.
• Tehran’s bazaar shut down; addicts reportedly fled rehab centers into highways.
• Strikes hit hospitals and residential areas; Iran accuses Israel of war crimes.

Nuclear infrastructure suffers major damage

• IAEA chief Grossi said all 14,000 centrifuge cascades at Natanz were likely destroyed after a power loss.
• Satellite images show damage outside Fordow nuclear site.
• Iran’s mission to the UN in Vienna said continued NPT compliance was unjustified.
• Iran’s parliament is preparing a bill to withdraw from the NPT.

Diplomatic efforts

• 22 nations including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia urged Israel to stop its campaign.
• Iran told Qatar and Oman it won’t negotiate a ceasefire while under attack but offered nuclear flexibility in exchange for a ceasefire, Reuters reported.
• French president Emmanuel Macron said President Trump has proposed a ceasefire to Iran and Israel.
• Foreign Minister Araghchi told European powers Iran never left the table but is now focused on self-defense.

War impacts air travel, oil, and trade

• Iran shut financial markets and extended flight bans until Tuesday morning.
• UK maritime agency warned of electronic interference in Persian Gulf waters.
• Russia began evacuating its citizens from Iran.
• Oil prices surged and over 1,800 flights were canceled worldwide.

"My main focus is i want to try to keep the United States out of another war in the Middle East," the Virginia lawmaker said. "I really want to focus on the United States side of this, so I filed a resolution this morning to say the United States should not be at war with Iran without a vote of Congress," Kaine added.

"Obviously, if Iran were attacking the United States, then we need to defend ourselves and you don't need to vote in Congress to do that but we should generally not be involved," he added.

Meanwhile Trump appeared keen to scotch some prominent dissent from luminaries in his populist coalition who voiced disapproval with American involvement in the conflict.

"AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Some of Trump's supporters have criticized Trump's hawkish stance on Iran as a deviation from his populist and anti-war campaign promises.

"Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'" Trump added, referring to a top right-wing commentator who opposes conflict with Iran.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Green meanwhile torched fellow supporters of President Trump who call for the United States to attack Iran.

"Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA," @RepMTG posted on X. "We are sick and tired of foreign wars."

Kentucky Republic Thomas Massie said the United States had no place in the conflict and would aim to ensure congressional approval for any military action.

"This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution," he wrote on X. "I’m introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement."

For his part, left -wing stalwart Senator Bernie Sanders warned against more costly military entanglements in the region.

"Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars, and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement," Sanders wrote on X.