Israel has agreed to a request from the administration of US President Donald Trump to halt strikes on Iran, but it will continue military operations in southern Lebanon, according to two Israeli sources cited by CNN. The development comes amid a highly volatile situation after the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which had been in place since April 8, collapsed on Monday, plunging West Asia into one of its most turbulent periods of direct military confrontation.
Iran Suspends Military Operations Conditionally
Earlier on Monday, Iran announced it was suspending its military operation against Israel. However, Tehran cautioned that the pause was conditional and that military action could resume if Israel persisted with strikes in southern Lebanon. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that Tehran remains committed to both defending its national interests and pursuing diplomatic engagement, emphasizing that the country will not back down in the face of threats while keeping the door open to negotiations.
In a post on X, the Iranian president stressed that military preparedness and diplomacy are complementary pillars of national strength, rejecting suggestions that Tehran has chosen one path over the other. He stated, "Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power; we have neither abandoned the field nor the negotiating table."
Trump Calls for Immediate Ceasefire
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that both Iran and Israel are seeking an "immediate ceasefire" following an escalation of hostilities involving intense rounds of attacks and counterattacks after Tel Aviv launched strikes on Tehran. Trump added that final negotiations on a peace deal aimed at achieving a complete resolution to the West Asia conflict are currently underway. However, he cautioned that "ignorance or stupidity" could derail efforts to reach a final agreement.
"Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate ceasefire! Final negotiations on 'Peace' are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way," Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. The US President also noted that Washington's blockade of Iran will continue until a deal is reached, adding that the deal is moving "quickly."
Conflict Marks 100th Day with Direct Fire
Marking the conflict's 100th day, Israel and Iran officially traded direct fire, putting the region's already fragile truce in serious jeopardy and threatening to reignite an all-out regional war. This latest round of multi-front actions included a strike on an Iranian petrochemical complex and what Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed was the targeting of two Israeli bases. These severe hostilities erupted just hours after US President Donald Trump reportedly called on Israel to refrain from retaliating against Tehran's missiles.
The foundational breakdown of the cross-border truce infrastructure escalated after Israel launched airstrikes at Beirut's southern suburbs on Sunday. This initial action led Iran to retaliate with its own strike on Israel, ultimately triggering Monday's intense round of attacks and counterattacks. This sudden re-eruption of hostilities has cast a foreboding shadow over diplomatic efforts to permanently end the war, which originally commenced on February 28.
