Trump says US won’t kill Iran’s supreme leader ‘for now’
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US President Donald Trump (left) said on social media that the US knows exactly where Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is hiding.
PHOTOS: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump dramatically stepped up his rhetoric against Iran’s Supreme Leader on June 17, saying on social media that the US knows where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is located but will not kill him “for now”.
In another post, Mr Trump also appeared to demand Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” as he fuelled questions about whether the US would join Israel’s attacks on Tehran’s leadership and nuclear facilities.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Minutes later, he followed up with another message simply saying: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Mr Trump flew back early
The US President has so far stressed that his country is not getting involved in the conflict, and has said that Iran could still take a deal to end its nuclear programme that he had proposed before Israel’s attacks.
But Mr Trump has given mounting signals that Washington’s intervention in some form may now be imminent.
He said on June 17 that “we” have “complete and total control of the skies over Iran”, hailing the use of US-made weaponry without explicitly mentioning Israel.
Israel, the closest US ally in the Middle East, had recently made a similar claim.
Earlier, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One while returning from Canada that he wanted “a real end, not a ceasefire”
