Trump says only Iran's 'unconditional surrender' can end war

 President Donald Trump said on Friday that only Iran's "unconditional surrender" would bring an end to the Middle East war, as Tehran was pummelled by some of the heaviest US-Israeli strikes of the week-long conflict.

Trump made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran's president announced that unspecified countries had ​begun mediation efforts in one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end ​the conflict.

Now in its seventh day, the war has embroiled nations beyond the region, upended the world's energy and transport sectors, and brought chaos to even usually peaceful areas around the Gulf.

It has spread to Lebanon, whose prime minister warned of an impending humanitarian disaster as the death toll rose and tens of thousands fled heavy Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Trump, who has given varying reasons for starting the war that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last weekend, promised to help rebuild the country's economy if Tehran installed a new leader "acceptable" to him.

"There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that some countries had begun mediation efforts to end the war with the United States and Israel, but said any talks should address those who started the war.

"Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity and sovereignty," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.

"Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict." “Some countries have begun efforts at mediation,” Pezeshkian wrote in a post on his official X handle.

Several loud explosions sent clouds of black smoke into Tehran's sky, according to AFP journalists who described the day's strikes as the heaviest yet on the capital. "It's really very scary," a Tehran businessman who gave his first name as Robert told AFP.

"Checkpoints have been put up in place in the city to prevent looting and ensure control," the 60-year-old said as he crossed into Armenia.

Both Israel and the US warned on Friday they were escalating their attacks on Iran.

According to Iran's health ministry, the US and Israeli strikes on the country have killed 926 people.

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Friday that 30 per cent of the dead were children. AFP could not independently verify either toll.

Mohajerani added that 390 residential units and 528 commercial centres had been struck in Iran. Israel's military insisted it was only striking military targets.

Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at Israel since the war began, with AFP journalists in Tel Aviv reporting hearing several blasts on Friday. In Israel, at least 10 people have been killed, according to first responders there. The US military has reported the deaths of six of its personnel.

The conflict has sucked in Lebanon after Hizbollah launched missiles at Israel in response to Khamenei's killing.

Israeli's military pounded the country on Friday, including fresh strikes on Beirut's battered southern suburbs, considered a Hizbollah stronghold and home to an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people.

AFP correspondents saw scenes of panic on Thursday as residents fled en masse after an unprecedented Israeli order to evacuate the suburbs immediately if they wanted to save their lives.

Shadi Sayah, the mayor of Alma Al Shaab village in southern Lebanon, was among those who defied Israeli orders to evacuate.

"Of course I am scared, I am trembling," he told AFP over the phone from the basement of a church, as the sound of strikes got closer.

"It is our right to preserve and remain in our land," he said, adding that "we are pacifists... a danger to no one."

Agence France-Presse