JERUSALEM — Iran said on Monday it had halted its military operations against Israel, while diplomatic efforts to secure a broader ceasefire intensified following a new round of cross-border strikes that raised concerns about a renewed escalation in the Middle East conflict.
Iran's armed forces announced the suspension of attacks after overnight exchanges that included Iranian missile launches toward Israel and Israeli strikes on targets in Iran. Iranian military officials said operations had ended for the time being but warned that further Israeli actions, particularly in Lebanon, could trigger a renewed response.
The announcement came as U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran were seeking an “immediate ceasefire” and that negotiations aimed at reaching a broader agreement were continuing. In a social media post, Trump said both sides appeared willing to halt hostilities, although details of any proposed arrangement were not immediately available.
“Both sides are looking to do an immediate ceasefire,” Trump said, adding that final peace negotiations were underway.
The latest escalation followed Israeli strikes linked to developments in Lebanon and subsequent Iranian missile attacks. Israeli military officials said their forces had targeted military and defense-related infrastructure in Iran. The Israeli military also reported intercepting incoming missiles launched from Iranian territory on Monday.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said renewed fighting risked undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts. Speaking in Tehran, he said the continuation of hostilities would affect discussions aimed at reducing tensions in the region.
Iran also accused the United States of bearing responsibility for developments involving Israel, a claim Washington has not accepted. U.S. officials continued to publicly support efforts to prevent further escalation.
Regional and international governments called for restraint. China expressed concern over the renewed exchanges and urged all parties to uphold ceasefire commitments. Other governments and international organizations also reiterated support for diplomatic efforts intended to stabilize the situation.
The violence marked the most serious confrontation between Israel and Iran since a ceasefire reached earlier this year came under strain. While both sides reported military successes, there were no immediate reports of significant casualties from the latest exchanges. Details regarding damage assessments remained unclear.
As of Monday afternoon, both Israel and Iran said active military operations against each other had paused. Officials on both sides indicated that future actions would depend on developments on the ground, while diplomatic contacts continued in an effort to prevent another escalation.
