TEHRAN, June 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said he wants a 
"real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as 
the arch foes traded fire for a fifth day on Tuesday.

Israeli warplanes targeted dozens of missile launchers in western Iran and 
killed a senior commander, the military said, drawing retaliatory fire from 
the Islamic republic.

Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem shortly after sirens 
sounded in many parts of Israel warning of incoming missiles, with the 
military warning of another barrage in the afternoon.

Israeli police reported that debris fell in the central Tel Aviv area and the 
fire brigade said it was tackling a blaze.

The Israeli military said it killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani in 
an overnight strike on a "command centre in the heart of Tehran", just four 
days after his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, was killed in Israel's 
surprise attack.

Israel also said it targeted multiple missile and drone sites in western Iran 
overnight and again later on Tuesday, with black-and-white footage showing 
some of them exploding.

Despite mounting calls to de-escalate, neither side has backed off from the 
missile blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented aerial 
campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.

A new wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran -- including a dramatic hit on state 
television headquarters that the broadcaster said killed three people -- 
prompted both sides to activate missile defence systems overnight.

Iranian media reported several explosions in the central city of Isfahan, 
home to a key nuclear facility.

Residential areas in both countries have suffered, while foreign government 
scrambled to evacuate their citizens.

A cyberattack on Tuesday crippled Sepah Bank, one of Iran's main state-owned 
banks, the Fars news agency reported.

- 'Complete give-up' -

Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return 
for peace, without elaborating on the outcome he seeks.

"I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," 
he told reporters after cutting short his attendance at a Group of Seven 
summit in Canada.

Trump, who has said Washington was not involved in Israel's initial strikes, 
again warned Iran against targeting US troops and assets in the Middle East, 
saying "we'll come down so hard, it'd be gloves off".

The US president had earlier issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth 
Social platform, saying: "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"

Fearing the violence, many residents have fled Tehran since Friday.

On Tuesday, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as the 
remaining residents rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies.

Security checkpoints have been set up across Tehran, adding to the atmosphere 
of tension as authorities monitor movement in and out of key districts.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States was deploying "additional 
capabilities" to the Middle East, with a US aircraft carrier reportedly 
heading to the region.

China accused Trump of "pouring oil" on the conflict.

"Making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-
escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," 
said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.

At the G7 summit, leaders including Trump called Monday for "de-escalation" 
while stressing Israel had the right to defend itself and that "Iran can 
never have a nuclear weapon".

- Iran 'will continue' -

After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise 
air campaign aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an 
ambition Tehran denies.

The UN nuclear watchdog said there appear to have been "direct impacts on the 
underground enrichment halls" at Iran's Natanz facility.

Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the 
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 
nuclear warheads.

The escalation has derailed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington and 
stoked fears of broader conflict.

At least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according 
to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, 
including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not 
issued an updated toll since then.

Netanyahu said Israel was "changing the face of the Middle East, and that can 
lead to radical changes inside Iran itself".

After several rounds of talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in recent weeks, 
Iran said after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate 
with the United States while under attack.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that "absent a total 
cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue".

Iranian state television said the Tel Aviv headquarters of Israel's Mossad 
intelligence agency was among the Revolutionary Guards' targets.