Iran’s military has halted strikes against Israel but warned that hostilities would resume if the Israel Defense Forces continue attacks on Lebanon, Tehran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNBC on Monday.
The development came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel’s war against Iran and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah “has not yet ended,” although he maintained that both adversaries are now weaker than ever.
The renewed tensions followed an exchange of strikes between Iran and Israel on Sunday night, marking the first direct confrontation since Washington and Tehran agreed to a fragile ceasefire in mid-April.
Iran fired missiles toward northern Israel after accusing Jerusalem of repeatedly violating the truce through strikes on Lebanon, including an attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday. In response, Israel said it carried out a “large-scale strike on strategic defense systems.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a ceasefire could still be achieved despite the latest escalation.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said both Israel and Iran “are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!”
“Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way,” Trump wrote.
He also stated that the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman would remain in place “until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached.”
“Things should move quickly,” Trump added, even as the conflict, which he had initially projected would last between four and six weeks, crossed the 100-day mark on Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, the U.S. president had urged both sides to halt hostilities immediately, writing: “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting.’”
In a telephone interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said Netanyahu “won’t have any choice” but to accept any agreement negotiated by Washington with Tehran, adding that “I call all the shots.”
However, an Iranian official appeared to cast doubt on the prospects of any imminent agreement with the United States.
Speaking to MS on Sunday, the official said “a deal with President Trump is no longer feasible at this stage,” while blaming the U.S. president for developments in Lebanon and the current escalation.
As tensions eased slightly, oil prices retreated from earlier session highs after surging more than five per cent.
Boluwatife Enome
