‘Trump poised for war’ and ‘Biggest scandals ever’
June 18, 2025
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Donald Trump’s call for Iran to surrender in its escalating conflict with Israel dominates Wednesday’s papers. The Financial Times reports that Trump’s patience is “wearing thin” as he leaves the door open for the US to join the conflict.
The i focuses on the US president’s warning to Iran’s supreme leader, saying “we are not going to kill him, at least not for now”. Trump also said he is aware of the location of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the paper reports.
The Times also highlights Trump’s message to Iran’s supreme leader, quoting the president describing him an “easy target”. Also prominent is a photograph of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
The Daily Telegraph says Trump is “‘poised to join war on Iran”. Also featured prominently is the news the UK government is set to delay the opening of the remaining leg of HS2. It describes the project’s recent history as “£37bn of failure”.
The Middle East is “in flames”, according to the front page of the Daily Mail. It says the US is assembling an “armada of warships” in the region ahead of possible military action. Pictured is Kim Woodburn, TV’s ‘queen of clean’, who died on Monday.
The Sun also headlines on “Trump’s armada” and warns the US and Iran now stand “on the brink” of war. Pictured is a US military aircraft on a runway in the UK on Tuesday.
The Guardian says Israel’s war with Iran is heading for a “pivotal moment” as the US weighs up whether to get directly involved. Also featured prominently is the Commons voting to decriminalise abortion, which it says marks the “biggest step forward” in reproductive rights in almost 60 years.
The Daily Express continues to lead its coverage with Baroness Louse Casey’s audit into grooming gangs. It quotes Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch calling findings from the review “one of the biggest scandals ever”.
The Daily Mirror follows with a plea from a grooming gang victim for other survivors to “come forward” and help bring perpetrators to justice.
Metro leads with health warnings issued for England as temperatures head towards 33C in some places on Sunday. It says the five-day heatwave forecast from Wednesday means many places will be hotter than southern Europe.
And finally, the Daily Star also features Donald Trump on its front page – though in a very different story. It quotes singer Rod Stewart, who said in a recent interview that he no longer attends his former’s neighbours parties because Trump “became another guy” when he was elected.
Donald Trump’s call for an “unconditional surrender” from Tehran makes many of Wednesday’s front pages.
The Financial Times says his “bellicose comments” have “left the door open” to the US joining Israeli attacks against Iran. According to The Daily Mail, strikes against nuclear sites were “on the table” during a National Security Council meeting in the White House situation room.
“Is Prez on brink of attack?”, asks The Sun. The paper says what it calls a “vast armada” of US battleships and planes is being moved towards Iran. The Guardian suggests that may be in response to a “general consensus” that Tehran’s deeply buried uranium enrichment facilities could prove impregnable without huge bunker-busting bombs that only the US possesses.
The Daily Mirror features an appeal from a victim of grooming gangs, for others who may also have suffered to come forward. Fiona Goddard warns “things will never change” without people speaking up. She appeared at a news conference alongside Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
The Daily Express leads on Badenoch’s comments, describing abuse by grooming gangs as “one of the biggest scandals Britain has ever seen”.
A picture of King Charles III and Queen Camilla attending the first day of Royal Ascot makes the front of the Times. The Daily Star says the event got off to a “frying start” as temperatures reached 30C – but the King’s horse, Reaching High, failed to “dazzle in the sun” and finished ninth, leading the Sun to suggest Charles had “a mare”.
