President Donald Trump called for an immediate halt to hostilities between Israel and Iran on Monday as the two nations exchanged new rounds of strikes following a rapid escalation in regional tensions.
The president’s appeal came after a series of military actions that threatened to further destabilize an already volatile situation. As missiles and airstrikes were exchanged overnight and into Monday morning, Trump publicly urged both sides to stop the violence and move toward a negotiated settlement.
“Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting,’” Trump wrote in a brief message posted to Truth Social.
The latest confrontation began after Iran launched strikes against Israel that Tehran described as a warning following Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israel responded by striking the Mahshahr petrochemical complex in southwestern Iran before announcing a broader military operation targeting Iranian air defense systems.
According to reports, the operation marked the first action of its kind since an April ceasefire took effect. The move also appeared to run contrary to a previous warning from Trump, who had cautioned against further escalation as diplomatic efforts continued.
Following the Israeli operation, Iran launched another barrage of missiles at Israel on Monday morning, further intensifying concerns that the conflict could spiral into a larger regional confrontation.
While both governments continued military operations, Trump sought to project optimism that a diplomatic breakthrough remained possible.
In a second Truth Social post, the president said negotiations aimed at ending the crisis were moving forward despite the renewed fighting.
“Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!” Trump wrote.
He added that final negotiations toward peace were continuing but warned that “ignorance or stupidity” could still derail progress.
Trump also stated that a blockade would remain in effect until a final agreement was reached, expressing confidence that developments would move quickly.
The president’s comments reflected his effort to balance support for negotiations while discouraging additional military actions that could complicate ongoing talks. Prolonged conflicts in the Middle East have often carried significant political, economic, and human costs, making efforts to avoid further escalation a priority for negotiators seeking a broader agreement.
The latest violence unfolded only hours after Trump reportedly held a private phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to Axios, Trump urged Netanyahu not to carry out further attacks, arguing that the parties were nearing a potentially significant agreement with Tehran.
“We are close to doing something good in terms of a deal,” Trump reportedly told the Israeli leader during the conversation.
Despite the renewed exchange of fire, Trump publicly maintained that the diplomatic process remained on track.
Speaking to the Financial Times, the president dismissed suggestions that the military actions would undermine negotiations with Iran.
“It’s not going to have any impact on the deal,” Trump said.
Trump also emphasized that he remained firmly in control of the diplomatic effort and rejected any suggestion that Israeli leadership was directing the course of events.
“I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn’t call the shots,” the president said.
As negotiations continue, the situation remains closely watched, with both military actions and diplomatic discussions unfolding simultaneously. Trump’s public push for an immediate ceasefire underscored the challenge of securing a lasting agreement while active hostilities continue and highlighted the risks that renewed fighting could pose to efforts aimed at achieving a broader peace deal.
[READ MORE: Trump Urges Netanyahu To Stand Down After Iran Fires Missiles at Israel]
