President Donald Trump called for an immediate halt to hostilities between Israel and Iran Monday night, publicly ordering both nations to honor a newly announced cease-fire deal just hours after missile exchanges reignited the regional conflict.
The cease-fire, brokered by Trump after nearly two weeks of escalating warfare, was immediately tested as Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel just before the truce was scheduled to take effect. In response, Israel reportedly destroyed an Iranian radar installation but, following a direct appeal from Trump, halted plans for a larger retaliatory strike.
“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” he added in a separate post.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said both countries had been engaged in conflict for so long they "don’t know what the f*** they’re doing anymore," adding, “This war could have gone on for years. It ends now.”
A Fragile Cease-Fire Under Fire
The cease-fire was declared Monday evening after Trump reportedly facilitated indirect talks between the two adversaries. However, by early Tuesday morning, tensions flared again as Iran launched ballistic missiles that killed at least three civilians in Israel.
In a statement, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir accused Iran of violating the cease-fire and vowed that Israel would "respond with force." Yet hours later, following a conversation between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli warplanes were ordered to stand down.
“All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran,” Trump claimed, describing the de-escalation in characteristic fashion. “Nobody will be hurt. The Ceasefire is in effect!”
Iranian officials initially denied that any formal cease-fire had been agreed to, but early Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi stated that military operations against Israel had ceased at 4 a.m. Tehran time. However, just after the announcement, Iranian forces launched another barrage of missiles.
“For the third time in the last hour, Israelis are currently running to shelter due to another missile launch from Iran,” the Israel Defense Forces posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Iranian state TV claimed the cease-fire had been “imposed on the enemy” after Iran’s retaliatory operations achieved their objectives.
U.S. Strikes, Diplomatic Gamble
Over the weekend, the United States launched a coordinated strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, targeting facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Pentagon officials described the attacks as causing "severe damage," though full assessments of Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain ongoing.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the strikes were not intended to provoke a regime-change war. However, Trump suggested in a follow-up post that regime change was "on the table" if Iran resumed its nuclear ambitions.
Vice President JD Vance praised the administration's handling of the crisis in a Monday night interview on Fox News, saying the deal marked the "effective end" of Iran’s nuclear program — at least for now.
“We have taken what was a threatening nuclear program that could have destabilized the entire world — now that program is gone,” Vance said.
Iran also fired on a U.S. base in Qatar earlier Monday. According to U.S. Central Command, no casualties were reported and nearly all of the missiles were intercepted.
A Long, Bitter Conflict
The conflict erupted earlier this month after Israel launched targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, killing several senior commanders and scientists. The operation was intended to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat and quickly spiraled into open warfare, drawing in the U.S. as a key player.
Iran remains a chief sponsor of anti-Israel terrorist groups in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem have simmered for decades but reached a boiling point in the wake of Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 civilians and led to the abduction of over 250 hostages.
Trump has long taken a hardline approach to Iran. During his first term, he withdrew the U.S. from President Obama’s nuclear agreement and reinstated severe sanctions. In 2020, he ordered the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, a move that sparked fears of wider war at the time but did not escalate further.
What Comes Next?
While Trump has declared the cease-fire a success and has ruled out further military strikes — for now — the situation remains tense. Iran's mixed messaging and continued missile launches raise questions about the durability of any peace agreement.
The full terms of the cease-fire remain unclear. It is also unknown whether this pause in hostilities will lead to renewed diplomatic talks over Iran’s nuclear ambitions — or simply serve as a brief lull in an ongoing regional conflict.
