Iran and Israel said Monday they had halted direct strikes against each other for now after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded an immediate stop to the renewed exchange of fire, marking a tense new test for the ceasefire reached in April.
Iran said Monday afternoon it would end its latest round of attacks against Israel, following the first direct exchanges between the two countries since the April ceasefire. The announcement came after overnight missile attacks launched from Iran triggered a major Israeli military response.
Trump earlier urged both sides to end the escalation, saying they should “immediately stop shooting”. Israeli media later reported Israel would also stop its strikes at the request of the U.S. president.
The latest flare-up began after Iran fired missiles at Israel overnight, breaking a period of direct calm between the two countries. Israel responded with heavy attacks on Iranian industrial sites in the west of the country.
The exchange raised new concerns over the durability of the April ceasefire, which had paused a dangerous period of direct confrontation between the two regional rivals. While both sides have now signalled they will halt the latest strikes, the situation remains fragile.
The pause does not amount to a broader regional settlement. It also does not end the wider violence across the Middle East, where Israel continues military operations in other areas.
Trump’s intervention placed fresh pressure on both governments to step back before the confrontation widened further. His demand for an immediate ceasefire came as international concern grew over the risk of another major regional escalation.
Israeli media reports said Israel would end its attacks following Trump’s request. Iran also said it would stop its latest strikes against Israel, though the long-term stability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.
Despite the reported halt between Iran and Israel, Israel has continued strikes in southern Lebanon and Gaza. Those attacks have killed and wounded several civilians, including children.
The continued fighting in Lebanon and Gaza shows the broader regional crisis remains unresolved, even as Iran and Israel pause their direct exchange. The next test will be whether both governments maintain restraint in the coming days or return to strikes if either side claims a new violation.
