Pundits Respond To Trump Decision

By
Mark Stevens
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A tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran came under immediate strain on Tuesday, despite having been brokered just hours earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump. Though both nations had initially signaled adherence to the agreement, accusations of violations erupted almost immediately, prompting Trump to issue an urgent and direct appeal to Israel: stop the bombing.


The ceasefire, announced by Trump in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was meant to bring an end to a 12-day conflict that began when Israel launched a surprise strike on Iranian nuclear and military targets on June 13. That operation killed senior Iranian commanders and triggered a regional chain reaction. The U.S. entered the fray days later, targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in a coordinated B-2 bomber strike.


Tensions escalated again Tuesday when Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered additional airstrikes on Tehran in response to what Israel claimed was continued missile fire from Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later released a timeline stating that Iran had launched multiple missiles both before and after the truce was to take effect at 7:00 a.m. local time. According to the IDF, one Iranian missile killed four civilians in Beersheba just hours before the ceasefire deadline.


Iran’s foreign ministry denied any post-ceasefire aggression. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated there was no formal ceasefire agreement and added Iran would stop military action only if Israel halted its attacks by 4:00 a.m. Tehran time. Iranian state media echoed these denials, though several missiles were reportedly intercepted over northern Israel during the early morning hours.


President Trump, speaking from Air Force One en route to a NATO summit in the Netherlands, expressed sharp disapproval of both sides: “Iran did. Israel did, too. I’m not happy with either.” He later said both countries had been “fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what they’re doing.”


According to a senior White House official, Trump spoke directly with Netanyahu and was “exceptionally firm and direct,” ultimately convincing Israel to abort further strikes. Trump then posted on Truth Social, “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”


Israel confirmed that it had recalled warplanes after the call with Trump, and that it would refrain from further action, citing the success of its previous operations and the agreement reached with the U.S.


Iran’s initial response to the U.S. strike over the weekend—firing over a dozen missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—resulted in no casualties, as the base had been warned and evacuated. While Iran described the attack as “devastating,” Trump dismissed it as “very weak” and thanked Tehran for the early notice.


Meanwhile, drone attacks on military installations in Iraq, including bases housing U.S. troops, were also reported. The Iraqi military blamed unknown assailants, but the attacks were consistent with threats previously issued by Iran-backed proxy militias in the region. No group has yet claimed responsibility.

International reaction to the ceasefire was cautiously optimistic. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi welcomed the news and urged Iran to resume cooperation with nuclear inspectors, suggesting diplomatic channels could reopen. Financial markets also responded positively, with global oil prices falling on news of a potential de-escalation in the Gulf.

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