Trump threatens to kill Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei and demands “unconditional surrender” | BBC News

Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender saying the US may kill the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Writing on Truth Social, the US President stated: “We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader is hiding”, and described Ayatollah Khamenei as an “easy target”. Mr Trump said: “we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now". He went on to say “our patience is wearing thin”. In another post he demanded Iran’s "unconditional surrender".

Mr Trump held a meeting with his national security advisers at the White House as more US warplanes headed for the Middle East. There’s mounting speculation that the US could join Israel directly in its war with Iran, which began five days ago with Israeli attacks on nuclear sites. Israel has said its aim is to prevent Iran building a nuclear weapon. However many of Iran’s nuclear sites are deep underground and only the US has weapons powerful enough to threaten them.

Millions of Iranians have been fleeing the capital Tehran where there have been reports of more explosions, with major roads out of the city gridlocked. Iran warned people in Israel to evacuate the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Tom Bateman, Sarah Smith, Siavash Ardalan, Chris Mason and Lucy Williamson.

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