TEHRAN TENSIONS
Trump expresses anger towards Israel due to alleged breach of ceasefire.
In a flare of anger, U.S. President Donald Trump circa June 24 took aim at Israel, accusing them of jeopardizing a proposed truce with Iran, which they'd announced just hours earlier. The bone of contention; Israeli airstrikes on Iranian soil.
"The craziness of ISRAEL and IRAN! They’re fighting themselves senseless," Trump told White House reporters, questioning their military decision-making capacity. "Can they even tell what they're doing? Seriously."
Admonishing Israel, Trump stressed they wouldn't be dropping bombs on Iran, and beseeched them to stand down. "Just stop it! This ceasefire is crucial."
News of a truce had emerged following a call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement released by Netanyahu's office, Israel reined in further strikes against Iran post conversation.
This ceasefire, initially shaky, managed to hold for the next 12 days. A series of strikes between Israel and Iran had transpired over the preceding fortnight, rendering the Middle East fraught with tension.
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The air was relatively calm over Israel and Iran come Tuesday morning, symbolizing the fragile peace. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic withheld publicly accepting the proposed ceasefire, merely acknowledging their forces had "forced" Israel to call for a truce.
Through his Truth Social platform, Trump exhorted Israel again: "Please, ISRAEL. NO BOMBS! Abide by the ceasefire, or face the consequences!"
The ceasefire's terms were dually phased, with Iran initially halting all operations at 0400 GMT, followed by Israel 12 hours later at the same hour-mark. Trump further emphasized, "Respect this truce. Violation is not an option!"
However, Trump stressed that he was not advocating for regime change in Iran, warning of ensuing chaos. While traveling to a NATO summit in The Hague, he told reporters, "I do not wish to provoke upheaval in Iran."
The Israeli government issued a statement post-ceasefire: "Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the cabinet... to announce that Israel had achieved all objectives of Operation 'Rising Lion' and more." Israel had allegedly neutralized an "immediate dual catastrophe" - nuclear and ballistic threats.
Yet, despite the temporary lull, Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the military's readiness to respond "forcefully" to any ceasefire violation. As incoming Iranian missiles were allegedly reported by the military, Katz activated Israel's defensive measures, sabotaging concerns over the truce.
Iran denied the launch of missiles towards Israel after Trump had announced the truce and later accused Israel of initiating unprovoked attacks post-ceasefire. Hostilities had abated as the world watched, hoping for an enduring resolve.
In the midst of this escalation, Israel attacked a residential area in northern Iran, killing Mohammad Reza Seddighi Saber, a nuclear scientist under U.S. sanctions.
The June showdown marked another chapter in their long-standing feud. Israel's 13-day assault on Iran had recently resulted in the deaths of 610 civilians, while 28 casualties were recorded in Israel itself.
Iran and Israel have been at loggerheads for decades due to deep-rooted historical, ideological, and geopolitical differences that escalated into frequent direct and proxy engagements. Israel has historically opposed Iran's nuclear ambitions, launching various covert strikes against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. In response, Iran supports groups hostile to Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah. More recently, Iran suffered unprecedented direct U.S. airstrikes on nuclear sites in June 2025, further complicating matters in the Middle East and casting a dark cloud over any potential ceasefire or diplomatic resolution.
- The ceasefire between Israel and Iran, albeit fragile, brought a temporary respite from the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, but political tensions continued to simmer as the two nations remained at odds over ideological, historical, and geopolitical differences.
- The political landscape of the Middle East was further complicated by the general-news of a possible resurgence of war between Israel and Iran, with both nations accused of instigating provocative acts despite calls for a ceasefire.
