Washington: US President Donald Trump has urged Israel and Iran to immediately halt military action after both countries exchanged fresh strikes, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire in West Asia could collapse. Trump’s warning came as renewed missile and air attacks threatened to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring calm in the region.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Israel and Iran must “immediately stop shooting”, signalling Washington’s concern over the rapid escalation. The appeal followed a sharp rise in hostilities after Iran launched missiles towards Israel, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets.
According to reports, Trump also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him not to launch immediate retaliatory action after the Iranian missile attack. A senior US official told the Associated Press that Trump believed he had convinced Netanyahu to hold off for the time being, though Israel later carried out strikes on Iran.
The renewed confrontation marks one of the most serious escalations between the two countries since the April ceasefire. Israel said it targeted Iranian military infrastructure, while Iran claimed its missile barrage was a response to earlier Israeli actions, including strikes linked to Hezbollah locations in Lebanon.
The situation has triggered concern among regional governments and global markets. Oil prices briefly rose as investors assessed the risk of wider conflict in West Asia, particularly around key energy supply routes. Analysts warned that prolonged fighting could deepen regional instability and affect international energy markets.
Trump has been pushing for renewed negotiations with Iran and has repeatedly argued that a peace arrangement can still be reached if both sides step back from military action. His latest remarks suggest that the US administration wants to prevent the conflict from expanding while keeping diplomatic channels open.
However, the developments also underline the difficulty Washington faces in restraining its regional allies and adversaries during active hostilities. Reports from the region indicate that both Israel and Iran have claimed they are prepared to respond if attacked again, making the ceasefire environment highly fragile.
The latest exchange has once again placed West Asia at the centre of global attention. With Israel, Iran, the United States and regional actors all watching the next moves closely, the coming hours are expected to be crucial in determining whether the crisis moves towards de escalation or enters another dangerous phase of confrontation.