Israel, Iran conflict rages on
US warning sees residents flee as Teheran vows 'painful responses'


US President Donald Trump's warning for evacuation sent many Iranian residents onto crowded roads in Teheran on Tuesday amid more Israeli and Iranian missile and drone attacks against each other, while the Iranian military warned Tel Aviv residents to flee.
Trump, again pressing Iran for a "deal" and stressing no nuclear weapon for Iran, wrote on his Truth Social platform, "Everyone should immediately evacuate Teheran!" He then left the Group of Seven summit in Canada earlier than scheduled along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
People were seen leaving Teheran on Tuesday morning — the fifth day of the intensifying conflict — as shops and the Grand Bazaar were closed.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Tel Aviv residents to immediately evacuate Tel Aviv.
In a telephone conversation with the Sultan of Oman on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that if the US government does not rein in Israel, Iran will have to show more painful responses. He said the US people had claimed that Israel would not take any action without their permission.
"Iran has been preparing for a long war," Iran's Tasnim News Agency quoted an official as saying, noting millions of Iranians demand retribution.
The Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday, following "a sudden opportunity overnight" with "precise intelligence" the Israeli Air Force struck a "staffed command center in the heart of Teheran" and assassinated Major General Ali Shadmani. Shadmani is the new commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, appointed after Israel assassinated Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, the previous head of the Iranian command, on Friday. There was no immediate confirmation from Iran.
Fierce Israeli attacks targeted Iran's state broadcaster, and oil and uranium enrichment facilities since Monday. Israel hit Iran's broadcasting authority, and footage showed a presenter hurrying from her seat as a blast struck and returning to broadcast later.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting resumed its broadcast shortly after the strike which claimed three lives, with a senior official at the service saying "the voice of the Islamic revolution … will not be silenced with a military operation".
When asked about reports that Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said killing Khamenei would not escalate hostilities, but would "end the conflict".
Oil facilities shut down
All facilities at the oil refinery in Haifa Bay were shut down on Monday due to an Iranian missile strike that killed three people on site.
But Reuters reported on Tuesday that anonymous sources said Iran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Netanyahu for an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations.
"If Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X. "Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue."
According to CBS, the US president is considering sending his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice-President JD Vance to meet with officials in Iran for a "real end" to the nuclear problem that involves it "giving up entirely" on nuclear weapons.
Trump predicted Israel would not be slowing its attacks on Iran. Teheran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment.
Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.