Israel strikes Iran after missile barrage shatters April ceasefire, as Trump urges Tehran back to talks

The exchange of fire

Israel launched airstrikes targeting central and western Iran early Monday, with Iranian state television reporting explosions in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran. The strikes came hours after Iran fired a series of missile salvos at Israel, triggering air-raid sirens across the country for the first time since the April ceasefire. IDF spokesperson Effi Defrin said the Iranian regime had made a grave error in attacking Israel, adding that the chief of staff was conducting a situation assessment to approve operational plans.

The Iranian terrorist regime launched missiles at Israel a short while ago; we were ready. The regime made a great mistake in deciding to attack us again, choosing terrorism once more.

The Beirut trigger

The escalation began late Sunday when the IDF struck the southern suburbs of Beirut, hitting apartments in two buildings in the Dahiyeh district. Benjamin Netanyahu's office described the raid as targeting a militant command centre. Until now, the area south of the Lebanese capital had been struck only twice since mid-April. Following the attack, Israel issued an evacuation order for much of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre and surrounding areas.

With the attack on Beirut, Israel has crossed all red lines.

Iran's response and threats

Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei posted on X that Tehran would deliver a firm and painful response, telling Israelis to watch the sky over the occupied territories. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf extended the threat to Washington, saying the US and Israel do not respect the truce or believe in dialogue, and that the naval blockade and violation of Lebanon agreements had turned American and Israeli bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets. Foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted an image of the Iranian and Lebanese flags together, underscoring solidarity with Lebanon.

The maritime siege against the Iranian nation and today's American green light to the Zionist regime to strike Beirut turn American and Israeli bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets.

Trump's intervention

Donald Trump, informed of the escalation, appeared on Fox News and urged Iran to stop. He told Tehran it had launched its missiles and that was enough, calling on the regime to return to the negotiating table. In an interview recorded Friday in Wisconsin, Trump had said he was very close to a deal with Tehran. On the critical sticking point of immediately unfreezing $24 billion in Iranian assets, Trump signalled no willingness to concede, saying that would come later if Iran behaved well.

You've launched your missiles, that's enough. What I would suggest to Iran is: you've launched your missiles, that's enough.

Military posture and the wider war

The IDF said it had reinforced its defensive array and remained on high alert, with Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir conducting assessments alongside senior commanders. The war in Iran has now reached the 100-day mark, with negotiations stalled. The exchange raises the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicates mediation efforts to end the war between Iran and the United States. Sirens were also heard in several Gulf countries.