Iran and Israel have paused military strikes following a direct appeal from US President Donald Trump, who warned that further escalation could derail peace negotiations. The ceasefire comes after weeks of tit-for-tat attacks that threatened to reignite full-scale conflict between the two nations.
Trump urged both sides to hold their fire in a series of social media posts and interviews, stating that each side had “had their fun” and that further strikes were unnecessary. After a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced that both sides were “looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!”
Iran and Israel later confirmed they would halt military operations, though both warned they would resume attacks if the other side violated the terms. Tehran said it would carry out “much more severe and crushing measures” if Israel resumed strikes on Lebanon, while a senior Israeli official stated that strikes on Iran had been halted at Trump’s request but that attacks on southern Beirut would resume if Hezbollah attacked northern Israel.
The latest escalation began when Iran launched several missiles towards Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Beirut, which breached a ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel responded by striking Iran’s air defence capabilities and a petrochemical plant, with explosions reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and Karaj.
Tehran blamed the US for the resumption of conflict, accusing Washington of being an “arsonist” and bearing direct responsibility for Israel’s ceasefire breaches. The White House denied giving a “green light” for the Israeli strike on Beirut, insisting it “had no part in this”.
