U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran unless it agrees to “unconditional surrender,” as Israeli airstrikes pounded southern Lebanon and Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the ongoing war.
The strikes in Lebanon were the heaviest since a 2024 ceasefire ended the last conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which fired rockets at Israel in the opening days of the latest hostilities. Over 95,000 people have fled Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon following evacuation warnings.
The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iranian military capabilities, leadership, and nuclear infrastructure, with shifting war goals that at times included overthrowing Iran’s government or influencing leadership selection. Trump, in a social media post, said that after Iran’s surrender and the selection of a “great & acceptable” leader, the U.S. would help rebuild Iran’s economy.
The war has affected more than a dozen countries, spiking oil prices. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi warned of global economic fallout and predicted oil could reach $150 per barrel following disruption at Qatar’s largest LNG plant.
Trump previously urged Iranians to “take back your country” with U.S. immunity guarantees, and suggested involvement in selecting a new supreme leader to replace the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissing Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, as a “lightweight.” Iranian state TV reported that the country’s Assembly of Experts is now discussing convening to select a new leader, amid attacks on clerical infrastructure.
Israel said it launched a “broad-scale” strike on Tehran, targeting underground bunkers, while Iranian missile and drone attacks hit Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, with no immediate casualty reports. Six U.S. troops have died; total deaths include over 1,230 in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel.
The U.S. military said it struck an Iranian drone carrier, IRIS Shahid Bagheri, setting it ablaze. Earlier, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, killing 87 crew members; 32 were rescued.
In Lebanon, Israel conducted at least 11 airstrikes around Beirut’s southern suburbs, prompting hospital evacuations. No immediate casualties were reported. Nawaf Salam condemned both Israel and Hezbollah, saying Lebanon did not choose this war. Meanwhile, Hezbollah called on fighters to “defend the nation” and escalate attacks.
The United Nations human rights chief Türk expressed extreme concern over civilian displacement, describing the situation as “blanket, massive displacement orders” by Israel.
The conflict continues to escalate across the Middle East, affecting global energy markets and regional security.