Middle East Ceasefire Wobbles as Trump Lashes Out at Both Sides
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered with U.S. and Qatari assistance after nearly two weeks of intense conflict, immediately faced challenges. The truce, which followed days of escalating missile exchanges and retaliatory strikes, reportedly got off to a difficult start, prompting an unusually strong and public outburst from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters and posting on his Truth Social platform, President Trump expressed significant frustration with both nations, stating he was “not happy” with either side’s conduct. While acknowledging alleged violations by Iran, his most pointed criticism was directed at Israel.
Trump’s Public Rebuke Targets Israel
President Trump reportedly accused Israel of undermining the agreement just hours after its announcement, claiming they had launched strikes of unprecedented scale immediately after the deal was made. In blunt and public directives, he posted messages like “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS” and “BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”, calling further Israeli strikes a “MAJOR VIOLATION” of the newly agreed truce.
He voiced particular displeasure with Israel’s alleged continued actions early the following morning, stating he was “really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning” and that he needed to “get Israel to calm down.” Reports indicated that Israeli leadership was “stunned” and “embarrassed” by Trump’s direct public criticism, though many Israelis reportedly remained grateful for his role in mediating an end to the fighting and acknowledged the nation’s dependence on U.S. support.
Differing Accounts of Ceasefire Violations
While Israel’s Defence Minister had reportedly ordered new strikes in response to alleged “blatant violations” by Iran involving missile launches, Iran denied launching any missiles after the ceasefire took effect. Iran’s Foreign Minister stated his country would refrain from firing if not fired upon, but noted a “final decision” was pending. Iran also claimed Israeli attacks continued for a period even after the agreed ceasefire start time.
Despite the turbulent beginning and Trump’s public anger, by later the following day, the truce appeared to be holding, with a pause in significant military activity. Following Trump’s appeals, Israel’s Prime Minister’s office indicated the military carried out one final attack before refraining from further strikes. Practical signs of de-escalation included Iran reopening its airspace and Israel lifting restrictions on activities and reopening major airports.
Conflict Context: Strikes, Casualties, and Nuclear Concerns
The ceasefire followed nearly two weeks of continuous conflict, marked by intense Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and retaliatory Iranian missile and drone launches that saw an unprecedented penetration of Israel’s air defence systems. The fighting resulted in significant casualties, with Iran reporting over 400 people killed in air strikes and retaliatory Iranian fire killing 28 people in Israel.
A key backdrop to the recent conflict involved recent U.S. strikes, alongside Israel, against three alleged Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel and the U.S. had claimed these sites were linked to a secret atomic bomb program. However, a classified initial U.S. intelligence assessment reportedly concluded that the strikes were less effective than publicly stated. The report suggested the attacks did not destroy two target sites and would likely set back Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months, as key components could be quickly restarted. Crucially, the assessment also indicated a significant portion of Iran’s potentially weapons-usable highly enriched uranium stockpile had likely been moved before the strikes, possibly to secret locations. This assessment aligns with previous findings from U.S. intelligence agencies and the UN’s nuclear watchdog, which have found no evidence Iran is currently trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the 12-day conflict a “historic victory,” claiming Israel had removed “the threat of nuclear annihilation.” Despite the ceasefire, he stated he had “no intention of easing off the gas pedal” and Israel “must complete” its campaign against the “Iranian axis,” which includes defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages in Gaza.
The fragile truce remains under scrutiny, with international partners like France and European allies reiterating readiness to reactivate sanctions on Iran if a diplomatic resolution to its nuclear program is not reached, emphasizing that “time is running out.” Oil prices also saw a decline as the ceasefire appeared to hold, easing concerns about potential disruptions to Middle Eastern supply routes.
