Israel struck Iranian military targets on Monday in a direct retaliation for an earlier assault by Tehran, despite US President Donald Trump warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking such action. The attacks targeted locations in western and central Iran, escalating tensions in the region and threatening ongoing peace negotiations.
Trump's Warning Ignored
President Trump had explicitly told Netanyahu not to return fire after Iran launched missiles at Israel on Sunday night. In a recent phone call, Trump reportedly rebuked Netanyahu with obscenities, urging Israel to halt its attacks in Lebanon to allow room for a broader peace deal with Iran. Hours before the Israeli strikes, Trump stated that new hostilities would not derail his administration's peace talks with Tehran, adding emphatically that Netanyahu "doesn't call the shots."
Sequence of Events
Earlier on Sunday, Israel launched strikes in the Beirut area for the first time since the US announced a truce plan for Lebanon last week. In response, Iran fired a series of missiles at Israeli targets, including the Ramat David air base near Nazareth, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were launched from Iran and that its defense systems intercepted them.
Despite Trump's assurances that an agreement to end the wider war remains within reach, Israel's defense forces announced they had struck Iranian military targets. The Revolutionary Guards reported that Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles in the attacks on targets inside Iran.
Impact on Markets and Diplomacy
The latest hostilities drove oil prices up more than three percent in early trading on Monday, with benchmark Brent futures rising back above $96 a barrel. The escalation poses a significant threat to US-Iran peace talks, which Trump had been promoting as a key achievement of his administration.
On Saturday, President Trump posted an image of himself on Truth Social with the caption: "Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!" The message appeared aimed at calming fears, but the subsequent Israeli strikes suggest a deepening conflict.
Analysts warn that the cycle of retaliation could spiral out of control, drawing in regional powers and undermining stability in the Middle East. The international community is closely watching for further developments as both sides show no signs of backing down.
