The war with Iran entered its second week Saturday with no end in sight, as President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his demands, ruling out any negotiated settlement and calling for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Trump’s declaration came just hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on social media that unnamed countries had begun mediation efforts, briefly raising hopes of a diplomatic resolution a week after U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran.
“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Friday night.
“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”
Trump’s statement effectively shut the door on any immediate diplomatic off-ramp, extending a conflict that has already spilled well beyond Iran’s borders, shaken global financial markets, and sent oil prices soaring.
The War Spreads
Early Saturday, missiles were seen flying toward Israel as the Israeli military said it had identified new launches from Iran. Explosions echoed across Israeli skies as air defenses activated to shoot down incoming fire.
Shortly after the barrage, the Israeli army announced it had begun a new wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran. The capital’s Mehrabad Airport was hit, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Israel also expanded its campaign in Lebanon, pounding Beirut’s southern suburbs Friday after ordering an unprecedented evacuation of the entire area — home to hundreds of thousands of people. The military said it was targeting Iranian and Hezbollah infrastructure.
“We’re sleeping here in the streets — some in cars, some on the street, some on the beach,” said Jamal Seifeddin, 43, who fled Beirut’s southern suburbs and spent the night in downtown streets.
About 300,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon in the past four days, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Lebanon’s health ministry reports 123 killed and 683 wounded from Israeli attacks.
The Toll
Iran’s U.N. ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands. Iranian retaliatory strikes have killed 11 people in Israel and at least six U.S. service members.
On the war’s first day, an apparent strike on an Iranian girls’ school killed scores of children. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that military investigators believe U.S. forces were likely responsible, though no final conclusion has been reached.
The Economic Shock
European and U.S. stocks tumbled on Friday. Oil prices hit multi-year highs.
The Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil moves daily — remains effectively shut. The U.S. International Development Finance Corp announced it would provide reinsurance for up to $20 billion in losses in the Gulf region to bolster confidence for oil and gas shippers.
Trump has said the U.S. Navy could escort ships through the strait. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards challenged him to try.
Spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said Iran “welcomes” and is “awaiting” any U.S. presence in the strait, state media reported.
The Russian Factor
Russia is providing Iran with locations of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East after Iran’s ability to locate American forces was degraded, the Washington Post reported, citing three officials familiar with the intelligence.
Russian missions in the U.S. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Leadership Question
Trump’s demand to have a say in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader — a notion he first raised days ago — was swiftly rejected by Iran’s U.N. ambassador.
New leadership would be selected “in accordance with our constitutional procedures and solely by the will of the Iranian people — without any foreign interference,” Iravani said.
Iran has described the conflict as an unprovoked attack and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as an assassination.
The War Machine
The Trump administration is rushing to replenish weapons stocks as the operation draws down supplies. The president met with executives from seven defense contractors on Friday, who he said agreed to accelerate production.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. has enough weapons for the campaign, which she said would take about four to six weeks to complete.
The State Department on Friday approved $151.8 million in emergency sales to Israel of munitions and support, skipping the usual congressional review. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined an emergency existed requiring immediate sale.
On Friday, Israel said 50 of its warplanes had hit an underground bunker in Tehran still being used by the Iranian leadership beneath the destroyed compound of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
What Comes Next
Trump has offered shifting explanations of his war aims, raising the possibility of an extended conflict. His “unconditional surrender” demand suggests this will not end quickly.
For now, the bombs keep falling — on Tehran, on Beirut, on targets across the region. Mediation efforts have been publicly rejected. The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Oil prices are soaring. And a war that has already killed thousands enters its second week with no resolution in sight.
