Donald Trump, president of the United States announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect late Monday, following nearly two weeks of escalating missile strikes and drone attacks. The truce brought a temporary halt to the fiercest military exchange between the two longtime adversaries in decades.
Despite the relative calm, Trump delivered a blunt message on Tuesday, criticising both sides for violations of the ceasefire. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said: “Iran violated the ceasefire, but Israel violated it too… I’m not happy with them. I’m not happy with Iran either. But I’m really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning.”
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With growing exasperation, he added: “We have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”
Trump pleads for restraint on social media
In a flurry of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump had earlier celebrated the ceasefire and called for calm. “ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt,” he wrote.
But just hours before, his tone was more urgent. “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS,” he warned, adding, “IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
Israel says it’s scaling back, but not backing down
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a final strike near Tehran had occurred after the ceasefire took effect, but said the military was now refraining from “further strikes.”
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Earlier that day, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz ordered new military operations in response to what he called a “blatant violation” of the truce by Iran. Tehran denied the accusation, stating that it had not launched any new missiles and accusing Israel of continuing attacks for more than an hour after the ceasefire deadline.
Iran signals caution, holds fire—at least for now
Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister said that Tehran would not initiate further strikes unless provoked.
“A final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he stated.
Al Jazeera reports that President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a phone call with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, signalled Iran’s openness to resolving broader tensions with Washington. In separate remarks, he declared an end to the “12-day war imposed” by Israel.
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“Today, after the heroic resistance of our great nation, which is making history with its determination, we are witnessing the establishment of a truce,” Pezeshkian said. He blamed Israel for the conflict, calling it a product of “adventurism and provocation.”
Toll of war: 400 dead in Iran, 28 in Israel
Since the conflict began on June 13, Israeli airstrikes have reportedly killed over 400 people in Iran, according to government sources.
Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks killed at least 28 people in Israel—marking the first time in decades that Iranian projectiles consistently broke through Israel’s US-funded air defences.
