US President Trump asks Israel and Iran to stop shooting
US President Trump asks Israel and Iran to stop shooting
American President Donald Trump has directed Israel and Iran to stop shooting, after both countries exchanged missiles for the first time since the ceasefire took effect in April.
The Iranian strikes were fired Sunday evening, hours after Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah firing rockets at Israel.
Iran has long argued that the ceasefire agreement it has with US and Israel should cover Lebanon, but Israel insists that Lebanon is not part of the truce, saying its war against Hezbollah will continue.
Sunday’s attacks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, were the “beginning of a full week of continuous strikes”.
Before Israel’s reprisal, Trump said he would urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to hit back.
In a Truth Social post, Trump later said 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. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly,” he said.
Neither side have confirmed they are negotiating a peace deal.
Last week, the US and Iran exchanged strikes despite negotiations. Trump said the ceasefire was still in place.
