Iran and Israel Halt Strikes After Intense Weekend Exchange; Trump Urges De-escalation
Iran and Israel stopped attacking each other on Monday following their most intense military strikes in months, though both countries vowed retaliation if hostilities resume. President Trump intervened by urging Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt a planned significant attack on Tehran, citing his preference for an immediate ceasefire. The escalation and subsequent pause highlight growing tensions between the US and Israel, with oil prices spiking 5% and global markets reacting to the instability.
After exchanging their most intense strikes in recent months over the weekend, Iran and Israel announced mutual halts to military operations on Monday, though both nations maintained threats of retaliation if the other resumed attacks. President Trump played a direct diplomatic role, calling Netanyahu to discourage a planned significant attack on Tehran and publicly stating that both countries were "looking to do an immediate ceasefire." Trump told the Financial Times that Netanyahu would ultimately accept a Washington-Tehran truce, though Netanyahu's apparent resistance to this outcome underscores emerging friction between the US and Israeli leadership. The escalation triggered immediate market reactions, with oil prices jumping 5% and stock markets declining. The episode also reflects broader strains on the US-Israeli relationship, including US intelligence concerns about Israeli spying on American officials and Israel's increasingly isolated international position, with public opinion in most polled countries turning unfavorable toward the country.
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