Israel has declared its intention to target both the newly elected leader and those responsible for their appointment.
Overnight, Israel launched a significant wave of attacks on Tehran, targeting infrastructure and oil facilities, which the Israel Defence Forces confirmed.
Residents in Tehran reported waking to loud explosions and massive flames from oil refineries, indicating the severity of the Israeli onslaught. Thick, choking black smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a “dangerous new phase” of the conflict and amounted to a war crime.
“By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air, poisoning civilians, devastating the environment, and endangering lives on a massive scale,” he wrote on X.
Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots were used to fuel Iran’s war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. “They are a legal military target,” he said.
Shortly after the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would press on with the assault and strike Iran’s rulers “without mercy”.
“We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change,” he said in a video statement. “We have many more targets.”
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was not interested in negotiating an end to the conflict that has sent energy prices skyward, hurt business and snarled global travel.
“At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say, ‘We surrender’,” Trump said.