Washington: US President Donald Trump has declared that he will only accept an "unconditional surrender" from Iran, amidst ongoing military actions by the US and Israel against Iranian targets. This development has led to further retaliatory actions from Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Trump made his stance clear on his Truth Social platform, stating, "There will be no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender!" He also emphasized the need for selecting a new leader for Iran who is "acceptable" to the US and its allies. Trump expressed a vision of a future where Iran is economically revitalized, contingent on compliance with his demands.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a warning about the potential for military escalation in the Middle East and Gulf regions, which could spread "beyond anyone's control." Guterres highlighted the severe impact of ongoing attacks on civilians and the global economy. He urged all parties involved to cease fighting and engage in diplomatic negotiations.
In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia's call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic solutions during a conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Kremlin issued a statement underscoring Russia's opposition to forceful solutions and its commitment to facilitating a political resolution to the Middle East tensions.
Amidst these developments, several nations and organizations have voiced concerns and taken actions in response to the escalating conflict. Azerbaijan reported thwarting intelligence activities by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while multiple reports indicated that a deadly strike on a girls' school in Iran may have coincided with an attack on a nearby IRGC facility.
The conflict has also led to disruptions in global oil markets, with significant price increases in both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate benchmarks. The US Treasury has issued a temporary waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil, aiming to ensure continued global oil supply.
Additionally, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei announced the company's intent to challenge a US designation labeling it a national security supply-chain risk. This legal action follows a dispute regarding the potential military applications of Anthropic's AI model, Claude.