The fate of Iran and the Middle East was on a knife on Tuesday as Israel continued to lash its enemy with nationwide airstrikes and US President Donald Trump indicated Washington could imminently join the fight.
President Trump on Tuesday demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender and warned US patience was wearing thin but said there were no plans to kill Iran’s leader - "yet" - as the Israel-Iran air war raged for a fifth day.
As an internet blackout gripped Iran, terrified resident fled the capital city after Trump called for a full evacuation and the Islamic Republic's armed forces' pace of missile salvos against Israel appeared to slacken.
A day after G7 heads of state including Trump mooted a resolution to end the hostilities, Trump appeared to take a dramatically harsher line on social media posts.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” he wrote on Truth Social. “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now... Our patience is wearing thin.”
Three minutes later, he blared, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Explosions were reported all across Iran on Tuesday, Iran fired more missiles toward Israel. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and southern Israel. Israel said it struck 12 missile sites and storage facilities in Tehran.
US involvement?
Trump met with his National Security Council for 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon, a White House official said, but no details were immediately forthcoming.
Meanwhile the United States is deploying more fighter jets and extending existing deployments, Reuters reported citing three officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the posture as defensive, citing US assistance in intercepting missiles fired at Israel.
Israel said Tuesday it had killed Iran’s new wartime chief of staff Ali Shadmani, four days after his predecessor was killed in earlier strikes.
Amid mass evacuation orders and fears of wider conflict, Iranians at home and abroad are reporting major disruptions to banking and internet services, adding to the chaos as Israeli airstrikes and US warnings drive thousands to flee major cities.
Fordow next?
Iranian media said Israel had launched a “massive cyber war” against its digital infrastructure. Iran’s cybersecurity command has since banned officials from using mobile phones, Fars news reported — hours after Israel’s envoy to Washington hinted at a broader operation than the one that once paralyzed Hezbollah’s communications.
The UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday that an Israeli strike hit the underground enrichment halls at Natanz. But the Fordow facility—where Iran is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade—remains untouched.
Only the United States has the bunker-busting bombs capable of potentially breaching Fordow, where nuclear material is deeply buried and heavily fortified.
Israel’s national security adviser said the strikes will not end until Fordow is damaged.
Israel, not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern nation with nuclear weapons, though it maintains official ambiguity on the matter.
Amid mass evacuation orders and fears of wider conflict, Iranians at home and abroad are reporting major disruptions to banking and internet services, adding to the chaos as Israeli airstrikes and US warnings drive thousands to flee major cities.
Messages and videos sent to Iran International reveal a nationwide breakdown in financial services. “You can’t even buy internet from Irancell,” one audience wrote.
“We have no way to pay,” another said, with bank systems crashing and cash machines out of service.
“The systems are obsolete and unprepared for modern cyberattacks,” AI and IT analyst Sahar Tahvili told Iran International.
“Cyberattacks in wartime are designed to cripple physical systems like transport, banks, and energy—and disrupt communication to undermine coordination.”
Sepah Bank has been entirely knocked offline, according to dozens of reports.
Hackers from the group Predatory Sparrow claimed responsibility. “We have destroyed all of Sepah Bank’s data in a cyber operation,” a statement by the group said.
ATMs out of service
The bank’s website and mobile services remain inaccessible. Users reported Sepah cards are all non-functional, with some ATMs across Tehran and other provinces out of cash.
Despite official denials, users across the country told Iran International that major banks, including Melli, Pasargad, and Eghtesad-e Novin, are also facing service failures.
“I’ve visited ten ATMs today,” said one man in Tehran. “None had any cash.”
Fars News Agency, tied to the Revolutionary Guards, confirmed a cyberattack disrupted Sepah’s remote services and warned of possible fuel station outages due to the bank’s backend support for some gas outlets.
Iran's central bank said banking infrastructure is stable and services were operating normally.
People in Tehran and other cities reported significant drop in internet speeds, some suggesting connection was all but impossible.
The impact stretches beyond Iran’s borders. Iranians stranded abroad due to flight cancellations say they are unable to access funds.
“I converted money to Tether, but crypto platforms block all transactions or require confirmation codes sent to Iranian phones—which don’t work here as roaming is down,” said a tourist stuck in Turkey.
“We came for a one-week trip, now we can’t pay for the hotel.”
Worse to come?
Retired military personnel who rely on Bank Sepah for pensions have also been affected.
“I served in the army for 30 years,” said one veteran. “Now I can’t even withdraw my pension while my children try to leave the city.”
With digital payments frozen, gold markets also ground to a halt.
"Gold shops are closed, and online platforms for selling gold are down,” a Tehran resident said.
Iran’s Cyber Security Command has issued a directive prohibiting government officials and their security teams from using any devices connected to public communication or telecommunications networks, Fars News Agency reported Tuesday.
The move comes amid rising concerns over mobile phone tracking being used for targeted assassinations within Iran. It also appears intended to prevent incidents similar to last year’s Israeli pager-based attack on Hezbollah operatives.
As infrastructure collapses under pressure from cyberattacks and conflict, many Iranians are left without cash, connectivity, or a clear way out.
Iran was very close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, President Donald Trump said, directly contradicting Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s assessment that Tehran is not pursuing one.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed Gabbard’s testimony to Congress and aligned himself with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s view.
Gabbard had told lawmakers that Iran’s nuclear weapons program ended in 2003 and has not been restarted.
