Trump Urges Immediate Ceasefire After Iran-Israel Missile Exchanges

President Donald Trump called on Israel and Iran to halt their latest round of attacks Monday after the two nations traded missile and airstrikes for the first time since an April truce. The exchanges mark the sharpest escalation in weeks and threaten to unravel fragile diplomatic efforts led by the White House.

Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles toward northern Israel on Sunday night in response to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut. Israel answered with waves of airstrikes on Iranian military sites and a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr, while explosions were reported in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and other cities. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, also launched missiles at Israel and declared a ban on Israeli shipping through the Red Sea. No casualties have been confirmed from the overnight exchanges.

Trump posted on Truth Social that both sides must immediately stop shooting. In follow-up messages he said Israel and Iran are pursuing an immediate ceasefire and that final peace negotiations continue despite interference from ignorance or stupidity. He added that the blockade on certain Iranian activities would remain until a final deal is reached.

The sequence unfolded despite Trump’s reported efforts to restrain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A U.S. official told Axios that Trump urged Netanyahu to hold fire to give diplomacy more time, but Israel proceeded with strikes on Iran. Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas described Trump’s public statement as signaling that the conflict is no longer America’s to manage directly.

The flare-up comes more than 100 days into the broader U.S.-involved confrontation with Iran. Oil prices jumped over five percent, with Brent crude rising above $96 a barrel, while Asian markets fell on fears of wider disruption to energy supplies. Saudi Arabia activated missile alerts near a base hosting U.S. forces.

Trump has consistently argued that the United States should avoid prolonged foreign conflicts. During his campaign he criticized past interventions, though he has noted he never guaranteed zero involvement and built up military strength as a deterrent. He has framed the current push for talks as an attempt to secure a practical agreement that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and reduces the threat of further escalation.

Analysts point to growing friction between Washington and Jerusalem over how to handle Iran. Israel has continued operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon even after a separate ceasefire there, prompting Iranian retaliation. Trump’s team has sought to keep channels open with Tehran through indirect talks involving mediators such as Pakistan.

The renewed fighting risks drawing in additional actors and raising costs for American taxpayers already funding extensive overseas commitments. With both sides claiming defensive actions and no clear path to de-escalation, the coming days will test whether Trump’s public pressure can pull the conflict back from the brink or whether regional dynamics will override the White House timeline.