by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump called Monday for Israel and Iran to immediately stop firing on one another, pressing both sides toward a ceasefire after an overnight exchange of Iranian missile barrages and Israeli airstrikes raised fears of a renewed regional war.
“Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In a follow-up post, the president said both countries were “looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE,” adding that final negotiations toward “peace” were underway.
“Final negotiations on ‘peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way,” Trump wrote. He said the U.S. naval blockade on Iran-linked shipping would remain “in place, and in full force and effect” until a “Final Deal” is reached.
“Things should move quickly,” he added.
Trump Presses Both Sides to Stand Down
Trump’s public intervention came after Israel and Iran exchanged direct fire overnight for the first time in two months, threatening to unravel a fragile regional ceasefire framework.
Israeli officials said Monday afternoon that Jerusalem had decided to halt its strikes against Iran following Trump’s call. One Israeli official told Hebrew media that the decision was made at the president’s request, though he stressed that Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon would continue.
“The sense is that this round of fighting is behind us,” the official said. “We are awaiting a final decision from the political leadership.”
A regional official also said Washington had informed Tehran that Israel would not carry out further attacks if Iran halted its missile fire. According to that official, Israel agreed to pause strikes on Iran for now.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump reportedly spoke by phone Monday, and Netanyahu was expected to convene his full security cabinet at 9 p.m. to review the situation.
Iran Fires Missiles After Israeli Strikes on Hezbollah
The escalation began after Iran launched missiles toward Israel overnight Sunday into Monday, saying it was responding to Israeli military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Air-raid sirens sounded across Israel as Iran fired roughly 22 ballistic missiles, according to an Israeli military official. Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists also fired two projectiles toward Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said the Israeli Air Force responded by striking military targets in western and central Iran. The IDF said the strikes, guided by Military Intelligence, targeted Iranian “strategic defense systems” and were intended to further improve Israel’s freedom of action in Iranian airspace.
“A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran,” the military said.
Ceasefire Push Leaves Hezbollah Question Unresolved
While Trump’s ceasefire appeal appeared to slow the immediate Israel-Iran exchange, Israeli officials made clear that the pause does not extend to Hezbollah, Tehran’s chief terrorist proxy in Lebanon.
Israel has said it will continue operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon despite Iranian warnings that continued Israeli attacks there could trigger renewed fire from Tehran.
That leaves the ceasefire effort on delicate ground. Trump is seeking to stop direct Israel-Iran fire while keeping the U.S. blockade in place as leverage for a broader agreement. But Iran has tied its restraint to the pace of Israeli operations in Lebanon, and Israel has refused to halt its campaign against Hezbollah.
For now, Trump’s demand for both sides to stop shooting has helped pull the region back from immediate escalation. Whether it holds may depend on whether Iran accepts a limited ceasefire with Israel while Hezbollah remains under Israeli pressure in Lebanon.
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