U.S. President ‌Donald Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on Friday, a dramatic escalation of his demands a week into the war he launched alongside Israel.

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.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump wrote.

“After ⁠that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful ​and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of ​destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”

On Thursday, Trump had told Reuters in a telephone interview that he was demanding the right to help select Iran’s new supreme leader, to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed ​in the war’s first day.

Israel pounded the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday after ordering an unprecedented evacuation ​of the entire southern suburbs of the city, in a major expansion of the war.

It also launched a new ‌wave ⁠of attacks on Iran, saying 50 of its warplanes had struck a bunker beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of Khamenei, still being used by Iran’s leadership after he was killed.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X: “Some countries have begun mediation efforts.” He did not identify the countries or provide further ​details.

“Let’s be clear: we are ​committed to lasting ⁠peace in the region, but we have not the slightest hesitation in defending the dignity and authority of our country. Mediation should address those who ​underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict,” he added.

Under Iran’s system, ​the president ⁠is subordinate to the supreme leader, but Pezeshkian is now serving on a panel that has assumed Khamenei’s duties.