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President Donald Trump called for de-escalation Monday after Israel and Iran exchanged fresh rounds of missile strikes, raising fears that the conflict could spiral further despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The latest escalation came after Israel launched overnight strikes on Iranian military targets and infrastructure, prompting Iran to fire multiple waves of ballistic missiles toward northern Israel. Air raid sirens sounded across parts of the country as residents sought shelter.
The violence followed a direct conversation between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the president reportedly urged restraint and pushed for progress toward a broader agreement with Tehran.
Shortly after Trump publicly called on both sides to stop firing, Iranian military officials announced they had delivered what they described as a “painful response” and would suspend further attacks for the time being. However, Tehran warned that any additional Israeli military action could trigger a much stronger retaliation.
The exchange marked another significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran, which have increasingly confronted one another directly in recent months. The latest round of fighting was sparked by an Israeli strike targeting Hezbollah-linked positions in Beirut, prompting Iran to respond with missile attacks on Israeli territory.
The conflict has complicated Trump’s efforts to negotiate a broader agreement with Iran aimed at reducing regional tensions and reopening key trade routes disrupted by the fighting. The administration has been engaged in indirect talks with Tehran for months, seeking to ease economic pressures caused by instability in the Middle East.
Adding to concerns, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched missiles toward Israel for the first time in months, widening the scope of the confrontation and raising fears about disruptions to major international shipping lanes.
Global markets reacted sharply to the renewed violence. Oil prices rose as investors worried about threats to key maritime chokepoints in the region, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, both critical routes for global energy supplies.
Trump has repeatedly called for both sides to return to negotiations, arguing that diplomacy remains the best path to prevent a wider regional war. Israeli leaders, however, continue to face pressure domestically to respond forcefully to attacks from Iran and its regional allies.
While Iran signaled a pause in its missile campaign, officials in Tehran warned that future Israeli strikes could lead to broader retaliation against Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East, leaving uncertainty over whether the latest ceasefire efforts will hold.
