Israel and Iran Pause Attacks After Trump Appeal

Israel and Iran have stepped back from renewed fighting after both sides signalled a pause in attacks following a call from U.S. President Donald Trump for them to “immediately stop shooting.”

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In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iranian attacks had ceased after Israel struck targets linked to Tehran’s leadership. He warned that any future attack by Iran would be met with a forceful response.

Fragile Halt to Hostilities

The exchange of Iranian ballistic missile launches and Israeli air strikes marked the most direct confrontation between the two countries since a ceasefire reached in April. While the latest pause has reduced immediate fears of a wider regional conflict, analysts have warned that the situation remains highly unstable.

Lebanon Remains a Flashpoint

Despite the halt in direct exchanges between Israel and Iran, tensions linked to Lebanon continue to threaten the truce.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said military operations against Hezbollah would continue and warned that attacks from Lebanon would trigger strikes on Beirut. Israel has rejected Iranian efforts to link a broader ceasefire to an end of Israeli operations against the Iran-backed militant group.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also adopted a defiant tone, saying Tehran would continue responding to what it described as repeated violations.

Reports on Monday indicated fresh rocket launches by Hezbollah into northern Israel, while Israel was said to have carried out a strike near Tyre in southern Lebanon.

Military Strikes and Diplomatic Pressure

Israel said it had targeted an Iranian petrochemical facility and dismantled air-defence systems in several parts of Iran. Iranian state media reported explosions in cities including Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz and Tehran.

Iran’s military said it had delivered a “painful response” to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted two Israeli military bases. Damage was reported to homes in a settlement in the West Bank after missile debris fell in the area, though no injuries were recorded.

Trump has been pressing Israel to limit military action in Lebanon as part of efforts to secure a broader agreement to end the conflict. On Monday, he said Israel and Iran both wanted an immediate ceasefire and that negotiations aimed at achieving peace were continuing.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said contacts with Washington were continuing but were taking place in an atmosphere of deep mistrust. He accused Israel of attempting to undermine diplomatic efforts.

Economic Concerns and Regional Risks

The latest escalation unsettled global markets, pushing oil prices about 5% higher before easing as signs emerged that both sides were stepping back from further attacks.

The conflict also risks widening through Iran’s regional allies. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it would seek to block Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and confirmed it had launched missiles at Israel in recent days.

Iran continues to seek concessions in negotiations, including a ceasefire in Lebanon, an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, partial access to frozen overseas assets and greater influence over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also wants to delay detailed discussions about its nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces domestic pressure ahead of elections later this year, while Iranian negotiators are confronting criticism from hardliners who oppose continued talks with the United States.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 9 June 2026

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