Trump demands Iran's 'unconditional surrender' as Israel attacks nationwide

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.

Unlike the jammed roads out of Tehran, the city itself is quiet—until it isn’t. Then come the missiles, the drones, the air defenses. Silence shatters. We brace. Then wait. Then do it all over again.

People’s reactions are far from uniform.

Some still cling to the idea that this war isn’t really theirs—that it’s between Israel and the Islamic Republic and will not touch their homes or families. They believe, somehow, they’ll be spared.

They have chosen not to let reality shake their belief, not to allow the mounting rubble and growing number of deaths register.

Today I overheard someone at the grocery store say Khamenei had fled to the mountains, and that the war would end by Tuesday. I told him this is Tuesday. He nodded and said, “Exactly—so it ends today.”

Others saw what was coming and hit the roads by Day 3, hoping to reach safety outside the capital. Many didn’t get far.

The highways are still choked with cars; people are running out of fuel, out of options. Many are stuck—no way forward, no way back. Tehranis are heading north, toward the Caspian provinces that have neither the space nor the infrastructure to absorb them.

There’s fear of what’s waiting on the other end: food shortages, fuel scarcity, and overcrowded shelters. And yet, people keep fleeing.

For those who stay behind, the fear is different but no less consuming.

Israel’s defense minister has declared that Tel Aviv will take revenge not just on the Islamic Republic—but on Tehran itself. And so the city waits.

It’s hard to grasp how fast everything collapsed. Just last week, we believed we were in a “tense but manageable” phase. Now, even that looks like a golden age.

Few believe the Iranian leadership will prioritize the people over their own survival. You can feel that abandonment hanging in the air.

I asked the grocer if deliveries are still coming. “So far, just dairy,” he said. “We’re waiting on bread and soda.” Most shops are shuttered. Workplaces are closed. It feels like the city is holding its breath.

The government says the metro can be used as a shelter. But for those who remain, home still feels safer—if only psychologically.

Most people I know or encounter just want the war to end—with a deal, a collapse, or just a pause in the strikes. “One way or another,” as my partner puts it.

Wasn’t this about nuclear facilities, many ask. Why target city ministries? Why strike targets nestled inside residential neighborhoods?

We’re friends of the Iranian people, Israeli officials say. Well, the dead and wounded beg to differ. So far, the casualties are overwhelmingly civilian. Homes have been flattened. Lives erased.

Tragic stories abound.

A young man is missing. His pregnant wife lies in a hospital bed, her body broken. A young poet and her entire family are gone. Painful images that the regime’s media machine tries to use and misuse.

On social media, the battle over the truth is as fierce as anything in the skies.

People are still hoping the power and water systems will be spared. Just imagine: no electricity, no water—on top of everything else.

I saw a woman today carrying water half her weight. Many are stocking up, but for a few days’ need only. They can’t imagine the war lasting longer than that.

But what if it does? Worried whispers are starting. What if this becomes another Ukraine? Or another Gaza?

We drift between disbelief and dread, clinging to the same fragile wish: that this nightmare ends—one way or another—soon.

The group alleged it had “destroyed all data” at the bank.The claim comes amid reports of widespread banking disruptions in Iran.

Several Bank Sepah branches were closed on Tuesday, and customers told Iran International they were unable to access their accounts.

Bank Sepah has 1,800 branches in Iran and others in Britain, France, Germany and Italy. The United States imposed sanctions on Bank Sepah in 2019 after it withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal.

Users also reported that cards issued by Kosar and Ansar -- both linked to Iran’s military --banks were not functioning. Ansar was also under US sanctions.

Iranian authorities have not commented on the outages or the cyberattack. However, IRGC’s Fars news said that the issue at Sepah Bank will be resolved within a few hours

Predatory Sparrow, which has previously claimed cyber operations against Iranian steel plants and fuel stations, said in a social media post that Bank Sepah had been used to finance military programs and circumvent international sanctions.

The group, which Iran has previously accused of having foreign backing, notably from Israel, said it had targeted the bank for its alleged role in supporting Iran’s missile and nuclear efforts.

Respondents were asked: "On the night between Thursday and Friday, Israel launched an attack against military targets in Iran. In response, Iran fired hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles at targets within Israel. What is your position?"

The results show a clear national divide between Jewish and Arab Israelis, the latter comprising 20% of the population.

“While Jewish Israelis largely see the Iran strike as unifying and justified even at high cost, Arab Israelis view it as divisive, dangerous, and diplomatically unjustified — underscoring a profound gap in public sentiment across Israeli society," the report said.

The research was carried out by Gayil Talshir and Nimrod Nir from the Department of Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

When asked, “Do you support Israel carrying out military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities?” 58% of Jewish Israelis expressed support for strikes even without US backing, 40% favored military action only with American cooperation, and 2% preferred a diplomatic approach.

Among Arab Israelis, 11% support striking Iran’s nuclear facilities even without American backing, 6% support military action only with US cooperation and 73% prefer a diplomatic route.

When asked, “Do you think Israel can completely destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and eliminate the military threat Iran poses to Israel without American military assistance?” 27% of Jewish respondents said yes, compared to just 9% of Arab respondents.

Only one-third (33%) of Jewish respondents say Israel should comply with US requests to halt the campaign if asked, compared to 78% of Arab respondents who believe Israel should stop the attacks to pursue an agreement preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Goal of Israeli attacks

Respondents were also divided on the campaign’s ultimate goal. When asked, “What should be the ultimate goal of Israel’s action against Iran’s nuclear program?”, only 14% of Arab Israelis supported a full military dismantling of Iran’s capabilities, compared to 56% of Jewish respondents.

The report surveyed 1,057 Israelis aged 17-86 on the attacks on Iran, what Israel calls operation Rising Lion.

So far, 24 deaths have been reported in Israel since Friday, with hundreds more injured, but speaking to Iran International, former military intelligence officer Miri Eisin, said the operation is going far better than could have been expected, with minimal casualties compared to what had been prepared for and massive gains, including taking control of Iranian air space.

Iran says more than 200 people have been killed since Friday amid extensive Israeli strikes, which have killed scores of the country's military leadership.

Even Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been supportive of the operation, seeing a changing sentiment towards the long-time premier.

US President Donald Trump on Monday issued evacuation warnings to Tehran, suggesting he will back Israel in its attacks in a bid to quash the threat of a nuclear armed Iran.

"Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" he added.

Here's a brief summary of major developments as the conflict entered its fifth day.

Trump's remarks, US role

• President Trump said Tehran should be evacuated immediately in a social media post Monday night.
• Hours before, Trump said Iran and Israel “may have to fight to the end,” though peace is preferable.
• Trump declined to say if he asked Israel to pause attacks.
• Speculation grew that the US might join Israeli strikes after Trump’s early G7 exit and social media posts; his deputy assistant dismissed the reports as "fake news" on X.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth said US is “postured defensively” but all options remain on the table.

Israel hits Tehran air and intel sites

• Israel said it destroyed two Iranian F14 fighter jets on the ground at Tehran's Mehrabad airport.
• Israeli strikes hit Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in northern Tehran, following an evacuation warning to all residents of District 3—an area with an estimated 300,000 people.
• Netanyahu told Iran International the strikes offer a chance for regime change.
• The Israeli army said 100 Iranian targets were struck in central Iran, and one-third of missile launchers were dismantled.

Iran launches more missiles, vows fight

• Iran launched dozens of missiles early Monday, killing at least eight in central Israel. Multiple missiles were also fired early Tuesday but left no casualties.
• IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour said Iran would continue operations even if Israeli strikes stopped.
• Eight IRGC and Basij members were killed in Khondab; two others in Zanjan.

Rising toll from ongoing hostilities

• Iran says more than 200 have been killed since Friday, including 14 nuclear scientists.
• At least 21 Israelis killed since the start of the conflict; a few hundred wounded.
• Rights group HRANA estimated 1100 casualties in Iran, killed and injured
• Israeli strikes killed four top Iranian intelligence figures in Tehran.
• Judiciary chief vowed wartime trials for alleged collaborators.

Civilians flee Tehran as strikes widen

• Almost every Tehran neighborhood has been struck, prompting a mass exodus.
• Heavy traffic was reported in major roads as people rushed to leave the capital for safer regions, especially by the Caspian Sea.
• Tehran’s bazaar shut down; addicts reportedly fled rehab centers into highways.
• Strikes hit hospitals and residential areas; Iran accuses Israel of war crimes.

Nuclear infrastructure suffers major damage

• IAEA chief Grossi said all 14,000 centrifuge cascades at Natanz were likely destroyed after a power loss.
• Satellite images show damage outside Fordow nuclear site.
• Iran’s mission to the UN in Vienna said continued NPT compliance was unjustified.
• Iran’s parliament is preparing a bill to withdraw from the NPT.

Diplomatic efforts

• 22 nations including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia urged Israel to stop its campaign.
• Iran told Qatar and Oman it won’t negotiate a ceasefire while under attack but offered nuclear flexibility in exchange for a ceasefire, Reuters reported.
• French president Emmanuel Macron said President Trump has proposed a ceasefire to Iran and Israel.
• Foreign Minister Araghchi told European powers Iran never left the table but is now focused on self-defense.

War impacts air travel, oil, and trade

• Iran shut financial markets and extended flight bans until Tuesday morning.
• UK maritime agency warned of electronic interference in Persian Gulf waters.
• Russia began evacuating its citizens from Iran.
• Oil prices surged and over 1,800 flights were canceled worldwide.