In a brief message posted on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump appealed for restraint from both sides, writing “Israel and Iran must immediately stop shooting.”
The statement came after a fragile period of calm unraveled, with Iran launching missiles toward Israel and Israel responding with airstrikes on targets inside Iran. The exchange marked one of the most serious confrontations between the two regional rivals since an April ceasefire.
According to multiple reports, Trump had privately urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran following the missile attack. However, Israeli forces later carried out strikes against Iranian military and strategic sites, including facilities linked to the country’s defense infrastructure.
The renewed violence has intensified concerns that the conflict could spread beyond Israel and Iran, drawing in other regional actors and threatening ongoing diplomatic efforts. Oil markets reacted sharply to the escalation, with energy prices rising amid fears of disruption to supplies and key shipping routes.
Despite the latest exchange of attacks, Trump has maintained that diplomatic channels remain open. His administration has been pursuing negotiations aimed at preventing a wider regional war and securing longer-term stability in the Middle East.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, signaled that they would continue responding to what they describe as Israeli aggression, while Israeli leaders have vowed to defend the country against further attacks.
With neither side showing signs of backing down, Trump’s latest appeal underscores growing international concern that the confrontation could spiral into a wider regional crisis if diplomatic efforts fail.
