In a bold move on Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump escalated tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict by implying that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was an “easy target” and calling for Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.” Trump’s statements on his Truth Social platform hinted at potential military action against Iran, sparking concerns about US involvement in the conflict.

The day’s developments included a meeting of Trump’s national security team at the White House to discuss military options in response to the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. Despite conflicting signals earlier in the day regarding US intervention, Trump’s rhetoric intensified as he suggested targeting Iran’s leadership and emphasized the need to prevent attacks on civilians and American soldiers.

Meanwhile, in a bipartisan effort, lawmakers sought to block any unilateral military action by the president without congressional approval. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and progressive Democrats introduced a war powers resolution requiring Congress to authorize any US military engagement in Iran, reflecting concerns about the potential consequences of escalating the conflict.

As the situation in the Middle East reached a critical juncture, Trump’s actions drew attention away from other global issues, such as Ukraine’s diplomatic frustrations over his absence from a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit. The president’s focus on the Israel-Iran conflict raised questions about his administration’s priorities and approach to international relations.

Overall, Trump’s provocative statements and the ensuing reactions underscored the complex dynamics at play in the region and the challenges of managing tensions in a volatile geopolitical landscape.