WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel and Iran to immediately halt their escalating attacks following a barrage of Iranian missiles on Israel and subsequent Israeli strikes, the White House said.
Trump made the appeal on Monday after Iran fired missiles toward Israel, prompting Israeli retaliation on military targets in Iran, officials reported. The exchanges marked the most significant direct confrontation between the two countries since a fragile ceasefire took effect in April.
Trump told Fox News that Iran should stop its missile attacks and return to negotiations. "What I would suggest to Iran: You've shot your missiles, that's enough. Get back to the table and make a deal," Trump said.
The U.S. president also pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to escalate further, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. Trump posted on Truth Social calling for both sides to "immediately stop ‘shooting.’"
Iranian state media reported that its missile strikes targeted Israeli airbases in retaliation for recent Israeli actions, including strikes in Lebanon. Israeli officials said most of the projectiles were intercepted, with limited damage reported.
Israel's military confirmed it carried out strikes on Iranian military sites and a petrochemical complex in response. Details on casualties from either side remained unclear in the immediate aftermath, with both countries providing limited information.
The developments come amid broader U.S.-led efforts to broker a peace deal involving Iran, which has included discussions on its nuclear program, sanctions relief and regional security. Trump has indicated that negotiations were progressing before the latest incidents.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump believed he had convinced Netanyahu to hold off on immediate further retaliation. Iranian officials have not issued immediate comments on Trump's statements.
As of Monday, monitoring continued on both sides. Israeli authorities maintained heightened alert levels, while Iranian media reported activations of air defenses. International partners, including Gulf states, expressed concern over the potential impact on regional stability and ongoing diplomatic initiatives.
No further strikes were immediately reported following Trump's calls for de-escalation. Officials from involved parties indicated that talks aimed at restoring calm were continuing.
